LGBT individuals often face barriers to healthcare and health disparities due to discrimination and prejudice in medical settings. Hospital pharmacists frequently encounter patients’ gender identity and partner relationships through medication counseling and interviews, positioning them as key professionals in LGBT-inclusive care. However, in Japan, no studies have systematically evaluated hospital pharmacists’ attitudes or clinical competency regarding LGBT patients, and the actual situation remains unclear. This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the current status of Attitudinal Awareness, Basic Knowledge, Clinical Preparedness, and Clinical Training regarding LGBT patients among hospital pharmacists using the Japanese version of the LGBT Development of Clinical Skills Scale (LGBT-DOCSS). An anonymous web-based survey was conducted among 464 pharmacists affiliated with the Oita Prefecture Hospital Pharmacists Association. Valid responses were obtained from 112 participants (response rate: 24.1％). The mean total LGBT-DOCSS score was 3.89 ± 0.69. Attitudinal Awareness scores were relatively high (6.01 ± 1.03), whereas Clinical Preparedness (2.29 ± 1.05) and Clinical Training (1.32 ± 0.83) scores were markedly low. In addition, 98 respondents (87.5％) reported that they had received no LGBT-related lectures or training. Although the respondents in this study had positive attitudes toward LGBT individuals, the findings suggest that they may not have been sufficiently prepared for practical clinical interactions with LGBT patients. Further consideration is needed regarding how practical LGBT healthcare education should be incorporated into undergraduate pharmacy education and postgraduate training.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Harada et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: