Towards an inclusive healthcare system

2S/LGBTQIA+ individuals in Quebec and elsewhere are significantly more likely than heterosexual and cisgender individuals to report unmet health needs or barriers to accessing healthcare services. This issue is compounded by the persistence of stigma within the healthcare system, leading many 2S/LGBTQIA+ community members to either refrain from seeking medical care, conceal their sexual orientation and history when seeking medical attention, or endure microaggressions during healthcare consultations. Additionally, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has introduced additional challenges, shedding light on various deficiencies in the Quebec healthcare system and worsening the access difficulties experienced by this population.

It is in this context that the study Towards an inclusive healthcare system was launched. The study’s primary objective is to describe the healthcare access experiences of 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities and to identify ways for rendering healthcare access more equitable and inclusive.

Between November 2021 and March 2022, 56 gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and two-spirit men shared their experiences in focus groups held online to rethink and reimagine healthcare services.

We are currently recruiting women and individuals who identify as lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or queer (cisgender or transgender) in Quebec to share their healthcare experiences in a 1.5-hour online focus group. Groups are held in French. Specific focus groups for racialized people are planned.

A compensation of $75 is offered to participants.

HUMANS BEHIND THE PROJECT

Principal Investigator
Olivier Ferlatte

Research team
Gabriel Daunais-Laurin (Rézo) and Tara Chanady (RLQ)

Research Assistants
Tristan Péloquin, Amy Rhanim, Geoffrey Ferber, Claudelle Brazeau, Eugénie Fontaine, Geneviève Fortin and Kinda Wassef

This study is funded by the Comité régional en santé et bien-être des hommes de l'Île-de-Montréal et the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux (MSSS).

This study is conducted in partnership with community organizations RÉZO and the QLN (Quebec Lesbian Network). This study has been approved by the Comité d'éthique de la recherche en sciences et en santé (project number : F20-CERSES-2802) at the University of Montreal.