The Significance of Privacy and Trust in Providing Health-Related Services to Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the United States

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention 2012-06, Vol.24 (3), p.242-256
• Main Authors: Dodge, Brian, Schnarrs, Phillip W, Goncalves, Gabriel, Malebranche, David, Martinez, Omar, Reece, Michael, Rhodes, Scott D, Van Der Pol, Barbara, Nix, Ryan, Fortenberry, J. Dennis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Aged; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Awards & honors; Biological and medical sciences; Bisexuality; Coding; Delivery of Health Care; Departments; Females; General aspects; Health; Health care delivery; Health Care Services; Health Needs; Health Promotion; Health Services; Health Services - utilization; Health Services Needs and Demand; Heterosexuality; HIV; Homosexuality; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Interviews; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Men; Mental health; Mental Health Programs; Middle Aged; Midwestern United States; Negative Attitudes; Patient Preference; Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation; Preferences; Prevention; Privacy; Public Health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative Research; Reliability; Research Methodology; Researchers; Sexual behavior; Sexual behaviour; Sexual health; Sexual Orientation; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Social Networks; Social Organizations; Teaching Methods; Trust; Trust (Psychology); U.S.A; United States of America; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0899-9546; 1943-2755
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2012.24.3.242

Previous research suggests that bisexual men face unique health concerns in comparison to their exclusively homosexual and heterosexual counterparts. However, little is known about behaviorally bisexual men's experiences with health services, including ways of providing services that would be most appropriate to meet the health needs of this population. This study sought to understand preferences for health-related services among behaviorally bisexual men in the Midwestern United States. Using a community-based research approach, a diverse sample of 75 behaviorally bisexual men was recruited for in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed utilizing inductive coding through established team-based protocols to ensure reliability. Themes emerged involving the importance of privacy and trust when reaching, recruiting, and engaging behaviorally bisexual men in health services. Findings suggest that multifaceted approaches are needed, including those that provide relevant and confidential services while allowing for the development and ongoing maintenance of trust.