The Importance of Patient Engagement and Collaboration in Improving LGBTQ Health in Nova Scotia

Health research from Canada (Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia), the United States and the United Kingdom indicates that the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) populations are worse than their heterosexual peers (Dilley et al., 2010; Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2013). There are many factors that contribute to these health disparities. Issues such as social stigma, discrimination and victimization experienced by LGBTQ populations have an negative impact on or affect the willingness of these communities to access preventive health screening programs and health care services more generally (Johnson et al., 2008; Makadon, 2011; NIH, 2011). LGBTQ populations experience higher levels of negative, often structural determinants of health including poverty, homelessness and social exclusion (Kitts, 2010; McBride, 2012; McKay, 2011). For example, the Canadian Community Health Survey (2009) found that 12% of reported hate crimes experienced in Canada were motivated by sexual orientation and that 75% of these were violent in nature.