Toward inclusive health care: Pharmacists' perceptions on academic preparedness and health care provision for the LGBTQIA+ community

Background: The community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other identities (LGBTQIA+), comprising sexual and gender minorities, frequently encounters violence, discrimination, and numerous obstacles in accessing health care services. Pharmacists have the potential to significantly contribute to the health care provision for this community.

Objective: To assess pharmacists' perceptions regarding academic preparedness and health care provision for the LGBTQIA+ community in Brazil.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2022 to February 2023, focusing on the academic training of pharmacists and the provision of health care to the LGBTQIA+ community in Brazil. Data collection was achieved through a 28-question online questionnaire, comprising both closed-ended questions, and Likert-type items. The study variables were subjected to an exploratory descriptive analysis.

Results: We received 261 complete and valid responses. A majority of pharmacists indicated that they provided health care to the LGBTQIA+ community (n = 161, 61.7%); however, they lacked formal education on LGBTQIA+ health care during their pharmacy program (n = 256, 98.1%). Most participants strongly agreed that pharmacists play a crucial role in promoting health care for this community (n = 213, 81.6%). However, only a small percentage felt confident in addressing issues related to the effectiveness and safety of hormone use for transgender patients (n = 38, 14.6%). Furthermore, less than a third believed that the health care provided by pharmacists should be differentiated for patients within and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community (n = 76, 29.1%).

Conclusion: The results of this study underscore the necessity and significance of incorporating this topic both in pharmacy training and continuing education. This approach is crucial to enhance and bolster the clinical practice of pharmacists.