Information Sheet

Faculty Supervisor: Andrea Daley, PhD, Renison University College, University of Waterloo. Email: andrea.daley@uwaterloo.ca 

Visiting Researcher: Jessica Kainth, MD, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, and Xavier University School of Medicine. Email: jkainth@uwaterloo.ca 

 What is the study about? 

In this research study, we look to gather information from family physicians and family medicine residents who work in rural and remote Ontario communities and provide health care to Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) communities or any individuals that identify outside the heteronormative structure of gender, relationships, and/or sexual identities.  

The primary goal of this project is to provide a better understanding of the 2SLGBTQIA+ care-related experiences, education, and needs of family physicians and family medicine residents in rural and remote areas across Ontario. The findings from the study may contribute to the provision of higher quality, equitable, and comprehensive care to rural and remote 2SLGBTQIA+ Ontarians.  

Specifically, the survey will explore the experiences and knowledge of family doctors in rural and remote Ontario communities related to the provision of care to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Survey questions focus on how family doctors attend to topics relevant to 2SLGBTQIA+ patients in hospitals/clinics, how they educate themselves on current published data and information, as well as additional information that they feel they need to support 2SLGBTQIA+ patients to improve their physical and mental health outcomes.  

Participants who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ will also have the opportunity to answer questions about their lived experiences of discrimination and receiving support related to their gender identify and/or sexual orientation. 

What does participation involve? 

Participation in the study will consist of an online anonymous questionnaire that will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You will be asked questions divided into 8 sections: Background of Practice, Current Area of Practice, Demographic Information, Contact with 2SLGBTQIA+ Patients, Access to 2SLGBTQIA+ Education, Services and Organizations, Ethical Considerations, and Networking Interest. 

With your permission, anonymous quotations from your open-ended responses may be used in papers and publications resulting from the study. There will be no identifying information shared with the use of these quotations. 

Who may participate in the study? 

Licensed family physicians currently practicing in Ontario, in rural and/or remote communities (part-time or full-time) based on Statistics Canada and adapted by the Rural Ontario Institute as any city or town outside a census metropolitan area (see map provided). This includes all age groups, races/ethnicities, and clinic types. 

Family Medicine Residents doing their Family Medicine Residency training through an Ontario University, in rural and/or remote communities in Ontario (part-time or full-time) based on Statistics Canada and adapted by the Rural Ontario Institute as any city or town outside a census metropolitan area (see map provided). This includes all age groups, races/ethnicities, and clinic types.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/rural.ontario.institute/viz/Geographies/About

Is participation in the study voluntary? 

This study is entirely voluntary and anonymous. If you choose to participate by completing the survey, you may also choose to end your participation at any time without any consequences. Some questions might be confidential or sensitive to you. You may leave any question you do not feel comfortable answering blank. Your choice to not participate or not answer a question(s) will not affect your relationship with the researchers, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Xavier University School of Medicine, or any other group associated with this project.   

If you decide, while filling out the survey, to completely withdraw from this study, you will be able to exit the survey (by closing your browser) and all associated data will be destroyed within 24 hours of starting the survey. Once you have completed the survey and submitted your responses, we will be unable to delete this data from the data pool as the survey is anonymous and we will be unable to identify the data from specific participants. 

Study findings will be reported without reference to names or any other identifying information. 

Will I receive anything for participating in the study? 

No remuneration will be provided for completion of the survey. 

What are the possible benefits of the study? 

Participation in this study will not provide any personal benefit to you. As a family physician or family medicine resident, 2SLGBTQIA+ patients may raise sexual and/or gender minority-related concerns, such as sexual health, gender dysphoria, gender affirmation surgery, and disorders in sex development. Findings from this study may be used to assist in creating new guidelines or update older guidelines on providing medical care or 2SLGBTQIA+-affirming supports to 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in rural and/or remote areas of Canada. 

What are the risks associated with the study? 

There may be a potential short-term psychological or emotional risk when answering this survey due to the sensitive nature of the topic being discussed. This could range from emotions of mild embarrassment to distress when answering some of these questions, based on the previous experiences of each individual participant. If a question or the topic does makes you uncomfortable, you can choose not to provide a response.  

We acknowledge that everyone will have a different emotional and/or psychological response to the questions being asked. Support resources will be provided at the end of the survey to all physicians who may need assistance. Additional resources are also available to participants who have filled out the supplemental survey, who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. If you would like to access these resources now, please feel free to click this LINK to be directed to our list of support services. 

How is data collected, stored, and protected? 

This questionnaire is completely anonymous and will not ask for your name or any other identifying information. This survey is hosted by Qualtrics Software, which has multiple safeguards, but no Internet transmission is ever fully secure. Collected data will be securely stored on password-protected computers for at least 7 years. 

Who is sponsoring/funding this study? 

This study is not sponsored/funded. 

Who should I contact if I have questions regarding my participation in the study? 

If you have any questions about this study or need more information before you decide whether to participate, please contact Dr. Jessica Kainth at jkainth@uwaterloo.ca.