The Behavior Analysis, Strategy and Communications Partners(BISC Partners) and the Democracy Lab (DemLab) are jointly implementing an initiative that aims to increase access to and awareness of gender-inclusive health services using behavioral insights.
Within the framework of the initiativeon January 9-12doctors of Curacio Clinic and Evex network were trained on gender-inclusive medical services – “Rules of communication with LGBTQ+ patients’ ‘.
During the two-day training, the following issues were covered::
- current situation in the medical field in relation to the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia:
- overcoming barriers in communication;
- Terminology;
- Principles of ethical and patient-centered communication;
- Creating a trusted environment and service chain
- Rules of communication with a transgender patient
- Medical risk factors of the LGBTQ+ community
Behavioral science experts and public health experts participated in the development of the training module. Training was developed based on modern guidelines and protocols and adapted to local context using behavioral science principles.
The development of the module was driven by behavioral insights research conducted by BISC Partners to identify the main psychological, structural or social barriers related to gender-sensitive topics in patient interactions. The research was conducted among both medical staff and community representatives.
Based on the behavior drivers research and context analysis several interventions will be implemented to encourage targeted behavior among doctors..
Finally, it is planned to develop a service protocol (manual) for doctors, as well as a training module, which will be available for healthcare practitioners, healthcare facilities’ administrations and government agencies.
The initiative is being implemented with the support of the government of United Kingdom of Great Britain within the framework of the ongoing project of the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) – Increasing Resilience in Eastern Europe. The main task of the initiative is to reduce the harmful effects of discrimination and gender stereotypes and increase access to gender-inclusive services by creating and piloting a behavior change model among medical practitioners.
