SynthesisThe British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners2018
Sexual orientation disclosure in health care: a systematic review.
Synthesis in The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 106 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
106 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 209 citations in OpenAlex.
- Disclosure experiences in LGBTQ+ healthcare staff: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.BMJ open · 2026Pooled it
- Palliative and end-of-life care needs, experiences, and preferences of LGBTQ+ individuals with serious illness: A systematic mixed-methods review.Palliative medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Systematic Review of the Literature on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Individuals.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Encountering sexual and gender minority youth in healthcare: an integrative review.Primary health care research & development · 2019Pooled it
- LGBTQ+ individuals' experiences of initial identity disclosure in primary healthcare services: a qualitative scoping review.International journal of nursing studies advances · 2026Review
- Associations between health care access and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among rural and urban lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adults.Journal of traumatic stress · 2026Article
- 'Put me off getting tested for years and years': a qualitative study of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men's experiences of homophobia in primary healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Evaluating PEACHES: Pleasure-Inclusive Implementation Strategies to Enable Healthcare Workers to Address Anal Sex Stigma During HIV Service Encounters.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an LGBTQ+ inclusive communication skills training for multidisciplinary oncology healthcare providers.PEC innovation · 2026Article
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis use in blood donors in England.Vox sanguinis · 2026Article
- "A sweating moment": impact of disclosure in cancer care on LGBTQI patient satisfaction.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2026Article
- "Our Community is not Appropriately Served": LGBTQ+ Cancer Survivors and Caregivers have Suggestions for Providers.The oncologist · 2026Article
- LGBTQ+ experiences of accessing NHS adult mental health services during COVID-19 in an area of North West England: a qualitative interview study.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Overdose risk in the context of chemsex among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.Harm reduction journal · 2026Review
- 'We need a warm hug to remind us that we are loved': a qualitative study of psychosocial health and wellbeing among lesbian forced migrants.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Sexual minority (LGBQ+) women's experiences of accessing addiction services: a qualitative study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Mental Health and Support Systems After Experiences of Sexual Victimization Among Young Sexual Minoritized Women and Gender Minoritized People.Journal of LGBTQ issues in counseling · 2026Article
- Understanding suicide risk among LGBTQ+ youth in Peru: Findings from a nationwide mental health survey.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2026Article
- Recording of wider determinants of health in UK primary care using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) databases, a descriptive cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Do I need to know my patient's sexual orientation and gender identity? Insights from Swiss primary care physicians.BMC primary care · 2025Article
46 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSignificant health disparities between sexual minority individuals (that is, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender [LGBT]) and heterosexual individuals have been demonstrated.
aimTo understand the barriers and facilitators to sexual orientation (SO) disclosure experienced by LGBT adults in healthcare settings. DESIGN AND
settingMixed methods systematic review, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods papers following PRISMA guidelines.
methodStudy quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and a qualitative synthesis was performed. Studies were included if their participants were aged ≥18 years who either identified as LGBT, had a same-sex sexual relationship, or were attracted to a member of the same sex.
resultsThe review included 31 studies representing 2442 participants. Four overarching themes were identified as barriers or facilitators to SO disclosure: the moment of disclosure, the expected outcome of disclosure, the healthcare professional, and the environment or setting of disclosure. The most prominent themes were the perceived relevance of SO to care, the communication skills and language used by healthcare professionals, and the fear of poor treatment or reaction to disclosure.
conclusionThe facilitators and barriers to SO disclosure by LGBT individuals are widespread but most were modifiable and could therefore be targeted to improve healthcare professionals' awareness of their patients' SO. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the broad range of factors that influence SO disclosure and the potential disadvantageous effects of non-disclosure on care. The environment in which patients are seen should be welcoming of different SOs as well as ensuring that healthcare professionals' communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, are accepting and inclusive.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.