Enhancing equity in our communities: a community-engaged mixed-methods pilot project of a 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse role

Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) people experience discrimination in their daily lives that contributes to poorer health and well-being. Health service settings are common sites of discrimination for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, who often feel unsafe and fear poor treatment within the health system, which leads to an unwillingness to access essential health services altogether.  

In response to the need for safe and meaningful health services for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Island Health has launched a revolutionary role: the 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse. To our knowledge, Island Health is the first health authority in Canada to develop a role specifically designed to offer support and guidance for 2SLGBTQIA+ people accessing and navigating the health system.  

This feasibility project will use community-engaged mixed-methods to (i) explore how the Liaison Nurse supports 2SLGBTQIA+ community members (including specific approaches and strategies), and (ii) learn about the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members who have received support from the Liaison Nurse during their health care journey within Island Health. We will host a Community Forum to share project findings and engage in conversations about directions for potential growth to support implementing the role across other health authorities in B.C.  

This project has been generously supported by the Health Research BC Health Equity Grants Program and is led by Dr. Ingrid Handlovsky and Dr. Allie Slemon, Assistant Professors in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria and Chandra Berkan-Hozempa, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Island Health. For more information on the project, visit the AdJust Research Collective website.