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Journal article
Personal Family-Centred Care for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Acute Hospital Settings: A Scoping Review
Journal of clinical nursing, Vol.35(7), pp.2909-2920
2026
PMID: 41746274
Abstract
Aim
To identify and synthesise existing evidence on family-centred care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other diverse identities (LGBTQ+) people in acute hospital settings, including hospital-based palliative care, oncology, general in-patient and intensive care.
Design
A scoping review guided by the JBI methodology.
Methods
Nine databases and grey literature sources were searched. Inclusion criteria focused on LGBTQ+ adults and family-related care experiences in hospital-based acute settings. After screening, qualitative, quantitative, and narrative data were extracted. Thematic analysis synthesised findings, with quantitative data narratively integrated.
Data Sources
Searches were conducted across nine databases and grey literature up to April 2025.
Results
Five studies met inclusion criteria: three qualitative, one quantitative, and one reflective narrative. Four themes emerged: (1) invisibility and disclosure dilemmas, (2) exclusion of chosen families from visiting and decision-making, (3) barriers to inclusive communication and provider competence, and (4) enabling conditions for affirming care. Challenges occurred at interpersonal (e.g., provider assumptions, discomfort) and structural (e.g., lack of inclusive protocols, failure to recognise legal surrogates) levels. In the two studies reporting gender identity, transgender participants described heightened misrecognition and exclusion.
Conclusion
LGBTQ+ individuals and their chosen families face relational and structural barriers in acute hospital care. Inclusive interventions, protocols, and training are urgently needed to ensure affirming care.
Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care
Acute and intensive care providers should promote inclusive family engagement by using patient-preferred terminology, recognising chosen families, and advocating for inclusive policies and staff training.
Reporting Method
This scoping review adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
Patient or Public Contribution
No Patient or Public Contribution.
Trial Registration
Registered with the Open Science Framework: 10.17605/OSF.IO/FSU8D (23/02/2025)
Details
- Title
- Personal Family-Centred Care for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Acute Hospital Settings: A Scoping Review
- Authors/Creators
- Gideon U Johnson - King's College LondonBianca Ysabelle Esmeralda - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKStephen Pearson - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKBeverley Ewens - Edith Cowan UniversityLouise Rose - Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
- Publication Details
- Journal of clinical nursing, Vol.35(7), pp.2909-2920
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Number of pages
- 12
- Identifiers
- 991005868968907891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Nursing
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
Metrics
3 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.178 Gender, Inequality & Social Structure
- 6.178.483 LGBTQ+ Intersectionality
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine