Sexual and Gender Identity-Associated Disparities in University Students' Experiences with Inappropriate, Disrespectful, and Coercive Health Care

Abstract

Purpose: Inappropriate, disrespectful, or coercive health care (IDCH) is associated with patient age and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and can impact healthcare engagement and outcomes. Emerging adulthood is a critical period for establishing trust in health care, yet little is known about university students' IDCH experiences. This study assessed the IDCH prevalence and identified IDCH-SOGI associations in a university student sample. Methods: Using data from the cross-sectional IDC Survey (2021), we quantified the lifetime prevalence of 18 IDCH items in a sample of 3403 university students. Chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess bivariate associations between IDCH items and SOGI. We modeled associations between demographic characteristics and two types of provider-sexual misconduct using logistic regression. Results: Statistically significant associations between SOGI and 17 of the analyzed IDCH items were identified. Self-reported IDCH experiences were more prevalent among minoritized SOGI students than heterosexual cisgender students, including receiving inappropriate/harmful treatment and dismissive or biased provider communication. Gender minority and sexual minority cisgender male and female students had significantly higher odds of ever being touched inappropriately during an exam, compared with heterosexual cisgender males (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence interval]: 3.07 [1.59-5.93], 2.34 [1.24-4.41], and 1.85 [1.16-2.90], respectively). SOGI was not significantly associated with experiencing a provider's sexual advances. Conclusion: University students with historically minoritized SOGIs may be particularly vulnerable to IDCH experiences; research is needed to understand differential experiences within minoritized sexual and gender subpopulations. Patient and provider education about healthcare norms and trauma-centered care could potentially reduce IDCH and its harms.

Keywords: disparities; gender minority; healthcare bias; patient–provider communication; sexual minority; university students.