Improving the accuracy of identifying lesbians for telephone surveys about health

Knowledge about the health status and health care needs of lesbians is limited by the lack of population-based studies, although recent survey methods research offers suggestions that may be relevant to involving lesbians in more rigorous studies. To explore the transferability of findings about the general population to research on lesbian health, focus groups were conducted in 1997-1998 with self-identified lesbians in five U.S. urban areas. Videotaped telephone interviews stimulated discussion about methods for enhancing participation of lesbians in random digit dial telephone surveys. Results are useful for developing improved practices for conducting health surveys with lesbians.