Ricerc@Sapienza

Research on LGBT health services is urgent as well as effective actions. Some studiesinvestigating the attitudes of mental Health Care Professionals (HCPs), social workers, medi-cal trainees and professionals, students, and resident assistants towards Lesbian and Gay (LG)people showed a significant negative role of sexism affecting attitudes towards LGBT people,marriage and parenting. This study aimed to investigate the influence of Educational Programsin Sexology (EPS) on sexism, homophobia, and attitudes towards same-sex marriage and parent-ing. Data were collected on 552 Health Care Professionals (HCPs). The EPS group was composedby professionals who attended an accredited training in sexology, while the control group byHCPs without a specific formation on sexual issues. The EPS group reported lower levels ofsexism and homophobia and more positive attitudes toward same-sex families (adoption forhomosexual couples, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization for lesbians). Having aspecific training on sexology appeared to be associated to more positive attitudes based onequal rights. Healthcare system should be prepared to meet sexual minorities needs. Havinga specific training on LGBT issues appears to be functional to a better patients’ taking care.Professionals who attended EPS seem to be the best references (for their formation and theirpersonal attitudes) for sexual education programs, as well as for clinical work with homosex-ual patients complaining about sexual, marital, and/or parenting problems. Implications forresearch, clinical and health promotion are discussed