Abstract
Background: Lesbians are a vulnerable population that has experienced discrimination in health care. Evidence-based strategies for supporting lesbian self-disclosure of sexual orientation have been developed for primary care, but not for acute care settings.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a grounded substantive theory to describe the process involved in lesbian self-disclosure of sexual orientation in acute care settings. Philosophical Underpinning: The philosophical underpinning was grounded theory as described by Strauss and Corbin (1998).
Methods: Twelve lesbians who had been hospital inpatients or Emergency Department patients within the previous twelve months were individually interviewed about the process of self-disclosure of sexual orientation to acute care providers. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim by the researcher and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding.
Results: The Neese Theory of Lesbian Self-Disclosure in Health Care was identified that consisted of antecedent conditions, the core category of personal risking, and the causal condition of fear. Personal risking was a two-stage process used by participants to manage the fear of self-disclosure and consisted of an anticipatory and interactional phase. Participants calculated the risk of self-disclosure and selected one of four interactional stances in encounters with acute care providers.
Conclusion: The Neese Theory of Lesbian Self-Disclosure in Health Care could be used to guide more inclusive acute care nursing practices for lesbian clients.
Sigma Membership
Lambda Rho at-Large
Type
Dissertation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Grounded Theory
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Lesbians, Patient Discrimination, Patient Care
Advisors
Walsh, Sandra
Degree
PhD
Degree Grantor
Barry University
Degree Year
2012
Recommended Citation
Neese, Margaret Ruth, "A grounded theory study exploring lesbian patient self-disclosure of sexual orientation in acute care" (2019). Dissertations. 114.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/dissertations/114
Rights Holder
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Review Type
None: Degree-based Submission
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2019-06-10
Full Text of Presentation
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Description
The author retains copyright.