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Using forum theatre to help fertility service providers better understand LGBTQ patients Lesley A. Tarasoff, MA, PhD Candidate 1,2 • Rachel Epstein, PhD 3 • datejie c. green, MES 4 • Scott Anderson MHSc 5 • Lori E. Ross, PhD 1,2 1 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto • 2 Re:searching for LGBTQ Health, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health 3 LGBTQ Parenting Network, Sherbourne Health Centre • 4 CWA Canada/Canadian Media Guild • 5 CATIE OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of forum theatre as a knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) method to educate assisted human reproduction (AHR) service providers about lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) patients. DESIGN We transformed data from the ‘Creating Our Families’ study, a qualitative, community-based study of LGBTQ peoples’ experiences accessing AHR services, into a script for a forum theatre workshop for AHR service providers. Based on forum theatre principles, our workshop included 5 scenes illustrating LGBTQ people interacting with service providers, followed by audience interventions to these scenes. Before and after the workshop, service providers completed surveys to assess their knowledge and comfort concerning LGBTQ patients, as well as the modality of the forum theatre workshop as a KTE strategy. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to determine changes in pre-workshop and post-workshop knowledge and comfort scores. RESULTS Thirty AHR service providers attended the workshop. Twenty-three service providers (76.7%) fully completed the pre-workshop and post-workshop evaluation forms. Demographic data for 28 participants Knowledge and comfort scores • Statistically significant improvement in knowledge scores among participants pertaining to lesbian (Z=−2.138, p<0.05), bisexual (Z=−2.326, p<0.05), and trans patients (Z=−2.199, p<0.05) immediately following the workshop. • On average, service providers reported a minimal (though not statistically significant) decrease in comfort working with LGB patients after the workshop. • Participants indicated a slight increase in comfort working with trans patients (Z=−1.725, p=0.084). Most agreed that the forum theatre workshop was an effective KTE method • Most felt that they had learned to identify institutional or organisational barriers to accessing AHR services for LGBTQ people (24/27 (88.9%)), as well as learned about strategies for providing appropriate AHR care to LGBTQ people (23/27 (85.2%)). • Many felt that the workshop helped them to better understand how to work with LGBTQ clients (25/27 (92.6%). • Service providers found the workshop engaging, humorous, ‘positive’, and ‘realistic.’ “This workshop was well done and presented realistic scenarios with issues that LGBTQ people face.” • Forum theatre is an effective means to capture the emotional dimension of the phenomena under study. “[It is] eas[y] to understand/sympathize with difficulties when seeing them portrayed by people.” • Many commented that the interactive nature of the workshop was effective. “Creative way to shed light to an important issue.” “Message was brought home in a visceral visual and memorable way.” • Some felt that we should have allotted more time for interventions and discussion. • Most agreed that their practice will change based on the workshop (19/23 (82.6%)). CONCLUSION In comparison with traditional forms of KTE, forum theatre may be particularly effective in engaging service providers and addressing their attitudes towards marginalized patient populations. Although the evaluation results of our forum workshop were mostly positive, the long-term impact of the workshop is unknown. Long-term evaluations are needed to determine the effectiveness of arts-based KTE efforts. Other considerations for developing effective arts-based KTE strategies include adequate funding, institutional support, attention to power dynamics and thoughtful collaboration with forum theatre experts. SELECT REFERENCES Boal, A. (1990). Theatre of the oppressed (New Edition). London, England: Pluto Press. Ross, L.E., Tarasoff, L.A., Anderson, S. green, d., Epstein, R, Marvel, S., & Steele, L.S. (2014). Sexual and gender minority peoples' recommendations for assisted human reproduction services. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Canada, 36(2): 146-153. Tarasoff, L.A., Epstein, R., green, d., Anderson, S., & Ross, L.E. (2014). Using interactive theatre to help fertility providers better understand sexual and gender minority patients. Medical Humanities. doi:10.1136/medhum- 2014-010516 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors thank Jessica Bleuer and Chris Veldhoven for their invaluable contributions to this project. Demographic N=28 (%) Notes Gender Woman 22 (81.5) Man 5 (18.5) 1 missing Sexual Orientation Heterosexual 23 (82.1) Lesbian 1 (3.6) Gay 1 (3.6) Bisexual 1 (3.6) Queer 3 (10.7) Some participants chose more than one option Professional Discipline Obstetrics 2 (7.1) Gynaecology 2 (7.1) Reproductive endocrinology 4 (14.3) Andrology 3 (10.7) Nursing 6 (21.4) Social work 3 (10.7) Managerial 5 (17.9) Administrative 4 (14.3) Basic science/Lab technician 4 (14.3) Clinical Research 3 (10.7) Other professional discipline (e.g., law, health services research) 7 (25.0) Many participants chose more than one option
