Veterans' Healthy Living, Winter 2014
Providing Culturally Comfortable Care
VA health care workers strive to provide the best possible care to all Veterans, regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. To do so effectively, researchers conduct studies that reveal what is happening at a particular point in time (often called a "cross-sectional" study). Study results then help decision makers determine what policies or procedures need to be changed.
One current study evaluating women’s experiences in the VA is also looking at women’s comfort level with disclosing their sexual orientation to VA health care providers. The results are important because VA wants toprovide an environment in which women feel comfortable talking to providers about their relationships with their spouse or partner.
Kristin M. Mattocks, Ph.D., M.P.H., VISN 1 Research Lead, explains. "As lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Veterans leave the military, we want to make sure we are providing care that makes them feel comfortable and that addresses any special health care needs."
Mattocks, who chairs an LGBT research group and co-chairs a reproductive health research group, says, “The 40–50 researchers and policymakers in the group continually assess what is being done in terms of LGBT health or reproductive health, which helps us understand where we need to focus future research.”
"Our goal is to make sure women are getting the best quality health care possible, regardless of sexual orientation," she adds. "These studies help us provide better health care by adding or altering programs, policies, and actual care."
For more information about the study, contact Dr. Mattocks at Kristin.Mattocks@va.gov.
