The Lived Experience of College Student Lesbians’ Encounters with Health Care Providers

The purpose of this preliminary study was to explore the lived experience of four self-identified college student lesbians coming out and their encounters with health care providers. This study used a qualitative method of phenomenology for data collection and analysis. Results of the study revealed a phenomenological model that embodied the core theme of navigating self-disclosure. Two major themes stemming from the core theme were also uncovered. Navigating self-disclosure in homophobic waters and navigating self-disclosure encounters with health care providers unveiled a continuum of self-disclosure to nondisclosure experiences encountered by lesbians. Strategies are offered to enhance interactions between lesbians and health care providers in primary and acute care settings.