Data Resources
The Population Research in Sexual Minority Health (PRISM) Data Archive is a collaborative project of the Center for Population Research in LGBT Health and the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). The PRISM data archive project is a primary initiative of the Center. The aim is to make available a number of high quality LGBT population health datasets to the wider community of researchers, scholars, educators and practitioners.
The PRSM project will link researchers to data resources useful for the analysis of issues affecting sexual minority populations in the United States.
Starting in 2009 this site will be functioning as a gateway to extract LGBT population data sets.
Work is currently underway to make data resources in sexual minority health available for secondary analysis. Several datasets are now available for use by Center research scholars. Many of these datasets will transition to availability for wider use through ICPSR at the PRISM archive.
The following datasets are now available to Center researchers. Contact Aimee Van Wagenen (avanwagenen@fenwayhealth.org), the Center's program manager, for more information about the project and to access this data.
CORE Data Project
Sample Size: 3,013
Study Date: 2001 - 2002 (12 month period)
Funding Agency: Fenway Community Health Center
Description: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between minority sexual orientation and gender identity and the health-related needs of patients receiving care at an urban community health center. The project expanded and systematized the collection and recording of key information about life experiences and health concerns believed to be important for sexual minority people. During the study period, all patients at the Health Center were offered an opportunity at intake to complete a one-page questionnaire developed with input from all provider departments.
HIV-infected Patient Retention Study
Sample Size: 179
Study Date: 2001 - 2004
Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Special Projects of National Significance, Award number H97HA00191-05-07
Description: This project examined the records of HIV-infected patients who were lost to follow-up, to identify reasons that they were no longer in care at Fenway Community Health Center. Telephone and mail surveys were administered to inactive patients. Survey questions included demographics, insurance status, potential reasons for stopping care, and whether the participant was receiving care at another facility. Pre-screener questions in the survey enabled the project to identify patients who were eligible for Health System Navigation and referred them to Positive Connections (#5 below).
MSM Chart Review
Study Title: Mental health service needs of MSM who present for treatment at an urban community health center
Sample Size: 148
Study Date: January 2000 - June 2000
Funding Agency: Fenway Community Health Center
Description: This dataset includes the mental health intake information of gay and bisexual men who presented for care during the study period. Intakes consisted of 1- to 3-hour clinical interviews conducted by psychologists and clinical social workers, who determined treatment recommendations and assignments. This information included current presenting problem(s) and history; prior medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment; current symptoms; areas of impaired functioning; and abuse history. It also included HIV infection status, the clinicians' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) diagnoses of the patient, and recommended treatments.
Transgender Chart Review
Study Title: Service needs of transgender people who present for treatment at an urban community health center
Sample Size: 195
Study Date: January 2003 - May 2005
Funding Agency: Fenway Community Health Center
Description: This study retrospectively reviewed the charts of 139 transgender clients who received care during the study period and were identified in the electronic medical record with ICD code 302.85 (Gender Identity Disorder or disorder, gender identity, adolescence or adult). Data were extracted from the medical and mental health intake components of the EMR, coded and entered into an Access database. Measures included: current presenting problem(s) and their history; relevant developmental history; surgical procedures including sex reassignment surgeries; current or prior hormone replacement therapies; prior medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment; current symptoms; areas of impaired functioning; suicidal and homicidal histories and ideations; physical, sexual, and emotional abuse histories; and standard demographic data.
Positive Connections: Connecting HIV+ Patients to Care
Sample Size: 103
Study Date: 2004 - 2006
Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Special Projects of National Significance, Award number H97HA00191-05-07
Description: Health Systems Navigation (HSN) was developed and evaluated in this study. HSN is an intervention that links near-peer interventionists with underserved HIV-infected individuals to assist them to become engaged and retained in HIV medical care. Partner organizations referred unstable and out-of-care HIV-positive individuals to the study. HSNs provided coaching, supportive services and referrals to those who enrolled, to enhance the probability that these individuals from historically underserved populations would become engaged and retained in high quality, culturally competent HIV care. This project also sought to improve our understanding of health care access barriers and to identify steps that can be taken to develop a reliable access monitoring system.
Women's Health in Boston and Cambridge: A brief telephone interview to identify lesbian and bisexual women in random digit dialing sampling
Sample Size: 202
Sample Date: September 2000 - November 2000
Funding Agency: Lesbian Health Fund of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
Description: Using random digit dialing, this study tested the feasibility of using a brief telephone interview to assess sexual attraction, behavior and identity among women. Population and health services data were triangulated to select a neighborhood in Boston with a high density of lesbian residents as the geographic area of study. Women were eligible if they resided in that area, were between the ages of 18 and 59 years, and were able to answer interview questions in English. Respondents who identified as lesbian or bisexual completed an additional section that inquired about participation in and identification with the gay/lesbian community.
We invite and encourage researchers and scholars to submit data resources to the PRISM archive. Please contact Aimee Van Wagenen (avanwagenen@fenwayhealth.org), the Center's program
manager, if you are thinking about submitting a dataset. More information about ICPSR data archiving policies, including information about ICPSR's restricted access data enclave, can be found on the ICPSR Web site.
ICSPR maintains a bibliography of publications that make use of data in its archives. Publications associated with the data resources of the PRISM archive will be made available.
