According to national survey results released by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive®, when asked to identify (from among 22 current health issues) which they feel should be the nation's top three healthcare priorities, a majority of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) adults indicated that HIV/AIDS (66%) should be a top healthcare priority followed by heart disease (29%).
Among heterosexual adults surveyed, 42% believed that heart disease should be a top national healthcare priority, followed by 35% who selected HIV/AIDS as a top priority. Equal proportions of GLBT and heterosexual adults (22% each) indicated that obesity should be a top national priority.
GLBT and heterosexual adults also indicated some concerns for their personal health. Both groups agreed that 'being overweight' worried them the most as a personal health risk (28% GLBT vs. 19% heterosexual). Following this, these groups diverge—GLBT adults were more worried about environmental hazards (15%) whereas heterosexual adults were more concerned about becoming disabled (12%).
These are highlights of a nationwide Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive study of 2,271 adults, of whom about six percent (6%) self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT). The survey was conducted online between Feb. 19-25, 2003 by Harris Interactive®, a worldwide market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the GLBT market.
'It is interesting to see where GLBT and heterosexuals in this survey agree and disagree,' said Colleen Dermody, vice president for Witeck-Combs Communications. 'That Americans want the nation's healthcare focus to be on HIV/AIDS, heart disease and the causes of obesity is not surprising—and the large GLBT community response to the HIV/AIDS focus reinforces the need for continued national attention toward that epidemic.'
Some other key findings from this survey include:
— Nearly a quarter (23%) of heterosexual adults indicated that substance/drug use should be a top healthcare priority, compared to 12% of GLBT adults.
— Eleven (11%) of GLBT adults said they are worried about depression/anxiety as a personal health risk, compared to 6% of heterosexuals.
— Nearly one out of four (24%) GLBT adults said they have deliberately withheld information about their sexual practices from their doctor or other healthcare professional, compared to heterosexual adults (5%).
— When choosing a doctor or healthcare professional, GLBT adults say it is as important to them that a provider is known to be 'gay-friendly' (25%) as it is to have that provider covered by their insurance plan (24%). For heterosexual adults, having their provider covered by their health insurance plan is the most important factor (39%).
— Although majorities of GLBT and heterosexual respondents reported that they have not been discriminated against in a healthcare setting (76% GLBT vs. 86% heterosexual), there are GLBT (24%) and heterosexual adults (14%) who have experienced discrimination in such settings.
'In this survey, nearly one in four GLBT respondents reported they had been discriminated against in a healthcare setting,' said A. Cornelius Baker, executive director of Whitman-Walker Clinic, Washington, D.C. 'Obviously, we are concerned about the potential gaps in care among.'
'Even though the percentages may be small, the fact that people acknowledge withholding information that may help doctors provide better quality medical treatment should be of serious concern to the medical community,' said David Krane, senior vice president for Harris Interactive.
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive among a nationwide cross section of 2,271 adults (ages 18+). Of those adults surveyed approximately six percent (6%), self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT). Figures for age, sex, race, education and number of adults in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.