Interventions addressing care staff views of older LGBTQ+ people in residential and homecare settings: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Previous research has identified that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) social care service users have concerns and/or negative experiences of their care due to staff views and attitudes about them/their sexual and gender identities. This has resulted in a number of barriers and challenges for the delivery of social care to this population. However, there is a little research relating to what types of evidence-based interventions can help overcome these barriers, enhance knowledge and promote positive attitude change in staff. The objective of this review was to systematically review current literature on interventions targeted at staff views and attitudes of LGBTQ+ older people in care and identify gaps in knowledge to inform a future theory of change and identify potential interventions to address these.

Methods and analysis: This scoping review will be conducted in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. We will conduct a comprehensive search of electronic databases (ie, Social Services Abstracts, Social Care online, Sociological Abstracts, PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, ASSIA and Web of Science) focused on both health and social care literature to identify peer-reviewed literature as well as targeted online searches of potentially relevant grey literature. We will include literature published in the past 20 years (2003-2023) that report interventions to address care staff attitudes of LGBTQ+ populations older than 50 years who are receiving adult social care in a broad range of healthcare, residential or home settings. Citations will be screened by two independent researchers for inclusion and relevant data extracted using a bespoke template. Data will be analysed narratively and summarised to identify gaps in knowledge and aid in developing a theory of change.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Review registration: A priori registration on Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/v76ws.

Keywords: Aging; Education; Nursing Care; Psychosocial Intervention; Review; Sexual and Gender Minorities.