Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41982318›Full record

ArticleNeurosurgery practice2026

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Neurosurgery: Exploring Physicians' Knowledge, Experience, and Competence.

Emmy Duerr, Emmanuel O Mensah, Sanjeev Herr, Madelyn Mendlen, Logan Muzyka, John Duffy, Deborah L Benzil, Sharona Ben-Haim, Lola Chambless, Liesl N Close and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Neurosurgery practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Emmy DuerrSchool of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Emmanuel O MensahDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4644-8674
Sanjeev HerrDepartment of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Madelyn MendlenDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Logan MuzykaDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
John DuffyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Deborah L BenzilDepartment of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Sharona Ben-HaimDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
Lola ChamblessDepartment of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Liesl N CloseDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
David DarrowDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
C Rory GoodwinDepartment of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Katherine E McDanielDepartment of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Juan Ortega-BarnettDivision of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
Garrett ZoellerDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Theresa WilliamsonDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals face delayed and disparate medical care. Given the growing visibility and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, ensuring that neurosurgeons are trained to provide affirming, informed care is increasingly important to improve their outcomes. This study aimed to assess the level of comfort and knowledge of resident and attending neurosurgeons in providing care to LGBTQ+ patients.

methodsWe conducted a survey across 9 US academic neurosurgery centers assessing 3 domains: training, preparation, and knowledge; clinical practice experience; and comfort or competence in LGBTQ+ care. Responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between knowledge and comfort/competence. In addition, a mediation analysis was performed to determine the extent to which clinical practice experience affected the relationship between knowledge and comfort/competence.

resultsEighty-seven neurosurgeons (35 residents and 52 attendings) completed the survey. For every 1-point increase in training, preparation, or knowledge, there was a 0.31-point increase in perceived comfort and competence [95% CI 0.24-0.39,

conclusionNeurosurgeons reported limited knowledge, comfort, and competence in LGBTQ+ care, particularly for transgender individuals. However, training and experience improve these findings. Therefore, strengthening training programs to better prepare neurosurgeons for affirming LGBTQ+ care could create an inclusive and equitable healthcare environment.

Indexed as

Healthcare providersLGBTQ healthNeurosurgerySexual and gender minorities

Identifiers

PMID41982318
PMCPMC13075900

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.