LGBT friendly healthcare providers’ tobacco treatment practices and recommendations

Purpose: This study aimed to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) friendly providers’ (1) smoking cessation recommendations to LGBT patients and (2) tobacco treatment practices for transgender patients. Design and Methods: In-depth, semistructured phone interviews were conducted with 13 healthcare providers. Findings: Four overarching themes emerged: (1) providing tobacco treatment services for LGBT patients; (2) barriers to LGBT smoking cessation; (3) prescribing practices for transgender individuals taking estrogen hormone therapy; (4) provider community outreach to promote LGBT smoking cessation. Practice Implications: Holistic tobacco treatment services are needed to address LGBT-specific barriers to tobacco cessation, such as stress, identity-related factors, and inadequate healthcare access.