The Effect of Education on Homophobia and Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbian Women Among Medical Faculty Students: a Turkish Sample

Abstract

Problem: Gay men (GMs) and lesbian women (LWs) can be exposed to misunderstanding, pressure, condemnation, obstructed access to public services, social isolation, and discrimination in many countries. They may also encounter various difficulties in accessing health services. Being GM and LW is generally unacceptable in Turkey, and both are perceived as abnormal. Medical students may require education on the subject of sexual orientation to improve their knowledge of and attitudes toward LGBT individuals, to help them remain neutral and avoid prejudice in providing health services for such individuals, and to ensure that such care is unbiased. Intervention: This one-group pretest-post-test design study was performed with third-year students at the Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty (Samsun-Turkey) on 01-31 September, 2021. Three hundred twenty-five students took part. We evaluated students' attitudes toward homophobia and being GM and LW following a two-week multidisciplinary education program. The program included such topics as "Marginalization," "Interaction between cultures," "Sexual orientation," "Faith-based marginalization," "Sub-cultures," "Health protection," "Gender," and "Marginalized groups." For objective acquisition, we organized small group work, experience-sharing sessions (such as different orientation groups, different ethnic groups, and different behavioral templates), presentations, and panel activities. Context: Some circles in Turkiye regard LGBT individuals as representing an attack on national and spiritual values, and they are used as part of the political discourse. Studies are being performed in some medial faculties in Turkiye concerning the inclusion of subjects related to LGBT individuals in the educational curriculum. However, these studies have not yet assumed the form of a curriculum design including content, method, and testing. It is important for subjects concerning LGBT individuals to be considered more extensively in medical education in Turkiye, and for awareness of the rights of these individuals in the community and of combating discrimination to be improved. Outcome: We observed a significant decrease in students' homophobia after education. Significant decreases were observed in agreement with statements to the effect that being a GM or LW is a disease, that it can be treated, that people can be identified as GMs and LWs based on their behavior, and that they pose a major threat to society. Lessons Learned: It is unclear whether education aimed at all marginalized groups will produce different results to those of programs aimed specifically at GMs and LWs, but we think that applying programs directed toward discrimination and prejudice together will yield more effective results.