Attitudes toward health care needs and utilization of a university health center among LGBT and non-LGBT college students.

COLLEGE students; STATISTICS; INFERENTIAL statistics; KRUSKAL-Wallis Test; MEDICAL quality control; ACADEMIC medical centers; ANALYSIS of variance; CONFIDENCE intervals; CROSS-sectional method; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL care use; CRONBACH'S alpha; LGBTQ+ people; QUESTIONNAIRES; SEXUAL orientation identity; SCALE analysis (Psychology); DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CHI-squared test; RESEARCH funding; STUDENT attitudes; NEEDS assessment; ODDS ratio; DATA analysis; DATA analysis software; MEDICAL needs assessment

Objective: First, to examine general health care attitudes and health care utilization of a University Health Service (UHS) at a large university. Second, to identify differences between LGBT and non-LBGT students. Participants: 2,943 university students were surveyed in Spring 2013; 7.8% LGBT, 67% undergraduate and 65% female. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods online survey to assess health care utilization and attitudes. Results: A majority had utilized UHS and held positive attitudes in general. LGBT students were more likely to: use UHS for ongoing care, mental health, and preventive care; report concerns about utilization (e.g. confidentiality, sensitivity, and discrimination issues); report provider discomfort discussing sexuality; and hold positive attitudes toward the health care needs of LGBT students. Conclusions: University health centers have an important role in student health. Barriers to care should be removed, including perceived discrimination. Student health center staff should be trained on LGBT health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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