Clinicians’ lack of adoption knowledge interferes with adoptees’ patient-clinician relationship

Unmet health care needs of adult patients adopted in childhood: insights and recommendations

2025-11-24

(Press-News.org) Original Research

Background: Researchers examined health care challenges faced by adult adoptees and how being adopted affects relationships with their clinicians. U.S. adult adoptees completed a mixed-methods online survey. A total of 204 participants were included in the final analysis.

What This Study Found:

Most participants described multiple types of adoption-related bias by clinicians: More than half of the participants reported clinicians made insensitive or inaccurate statements related to adoption (68%), ignored or dismissed adoption-related concerns (60%), or made them feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsupported (56%).

Participants who frequently experienced these negative interactions were seven times more likely to change physicians or delay care than adoptees who did not experience bias.

Five Themes Emerged From the Qualitative Results:

Adoptees want clinicians to recognize and address adoption as a lifelong factor with health care implications.

Many adoptees perceive that limited access to family medical history negatively impacts their care.

Adoptees with limited family medical history want to gain an understanding of their medical risks through genetic testing.

Clinicians’ lack of knowledge about adoption harms patients and impairs the adopted patient-physician relationship.

Adoptees report improved health care experiences and trust with clinicians who recognize adoption knowledge gaps, are receptive to feedback, and seek additional adoption-competent training.

Implications: The findings highlight the need for health care systems and clinicians to recognize adoption as a lifelong experience that can influence health and care access.

Unmet Health Care Needs of Adult Patients Adopted in Childhood: Insights and Recommendations

Julia L. Small, MD, et al

Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

Department of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado

Pre-Embargo Link (temporary)

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