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Health disparities for lesbian women exist. Underutilization of preventive health services for this minority population is troubling. Several factors are thought to contribute. This work provides a descriptive study of the problem using a Catalyst WebQ survey posted on a lesbian women´s social group web site in the greater Snohomish County area. It explores issues regarding access to health care, describes current experiences between lesbian health care consumers and HCPs, and identifies educational needs of both health care professionals and consumers of health care. The results of the study differ from much of the literature that is available, lending itself to further exploration into the networking nature of on-line groups, as well as the ponderance of a possible improvement in social tolerance for this group. The most striking feature of the study was the need for health care professionals to be more culturally competent and forthright with health information specific to the needs of lesbian health care consumers.

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Cherylann Alexander, RN, MN, earned her Master´s in Nursing degree at the University of Washington in 2010. She is currently an administrative supervisor and staff nurse at Providence Regional Everett Medical Center in Washington State. Her research interests are in the area of lesbian health.

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