Date Approved
4-20-2026
Graduate Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Nursing (D.N.P.)
Degree Program
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Jay Knight
Second Advisor
Dr. Christina Quick
Academic Year
2025/2026
Abstract
When leveraged correctly, sexual health education empowers youth to build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and confidently navigate gender and sexual identities. However, many school-based programs emphasize cisgender and heterosexual norms, leaving LGBTQ+ adolescents with limited access to inclusive and affirming sexual health information. This project aimed to develop and evaluate an online sexual health education toolkit designed to increase knowledge and support self-advocacy among LGBTQ+ adolescents, parents/caregivers, and healthcare providers. In collaboration with a Midwest nonprofit organization serving sexual and gender-diverse individuals, an online toolkit was developed and evaluated using two sequential Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. During the first cycle, subject matter experts reviewed the toolkit and provided qualitative feedback, which informed revisions to improve content clarity and user experience. In the second cycle, the revised toolkit was publicly released and evaluated through voluntary anonymous surveys. All respondents (n = 10) reported learning new information after reviewing the toolkit, and most reported increased confidence in advocating for LGBTQ+-inclusive healthcare. These findings suggest that digital sexual health education resources may serve as sustainable tools to enhance knowledge. They also support inclusive care for LGBTQ+ youth, though further evaluation with larger, more diverse populations is needed.
ScholarWorks Citation
Lypka, Joslyn, "Evaluating an LGBTQ+ Adolescent Sexual Health Toolkit: Boosting Confidence and Provider Knowledge" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations. 79.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/dissertations/79
