Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–March 31, 2011.
“I want to thank the Institute of Medicine for conducting this important study, at the request of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on the state of the science regarding the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
“The report provides the scientific community with the first comprehensive overview of health-related research in this important area. It concludes by recommending that NIH develop and implement a comprehensive research agenda to advance our knowledge and understanding of LGBT health, including demographic studies and inequities in health care, and the social contexts in which LGBT people live. The report also calls for federally funded surveys and electronic health records to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity while protecting patient confidentiality. In addition, the report recommends enhanced training to strengthen LGBT health research at NIH, and asks NIH to encourage grant applicants to address explicitly the inclusion or exclusion of sexual and gender minorities in their clinical studies.
“This report is an important step in identifying research gaps and opportunities, as part of an overall effort to understand and address the health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. We look forward to continuing our work to address these needs and reduce LGBT health disparities.”
Read the report at http://www.nationalacademies.org
Source: hhs.gov
