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ISBN:

1434-4599

Accession Number:

18787397

Abstract:

The transgender community is a population group that has experienced an increase in visibility, with only a small, concomitant increase in understanding. This study reports on four focus groups, in which 34 transgendered individuals discussed their experiences and interactions with the health care system. The specific aims of the study were as follows: Identify the health needs of transgender and transsexual (TG/TS) individuals; Hear the experiences and perceptions of TG/TS individuals who are using the current health care system; Identify any barriers to obtaining services, support and/or resources; Assess the extent to which health care providers and systems are able to offer sensitive, high quality and user friendly services that meet TG/TS consumers' needs; and Identify ways that health care services can be enhanced to better meet the needs of the target population. What the study found was a system that was anything but high quality in meeting the needs of TG/TS individuals. Ignorance, insensitivity and discrimination appear to be the norm. Specifically, the focus groups found the following: Transgendered and transsexual persons frequently encounter providers who will not treat them and blatantly say so. There is a need for education and a change in anti-discrimination law needed to change this. The lack of provider training on transgender issues creates insensitivity to simple issues of respect for trans people. One example is the unwillingness to address TG/TS people by the pronoun preferred by the patient/client. Many providers lack the knowledge to adequately treat many of the routine health care needs of TG/TS individuals when such treatment relates to issues of hormone use, gynecological care, HIV prevention counseling, or other concerns related to gender or sexuality. Providers frequently refer to trans issues in unrelated health care situations such as setting a broken bone, filling a cavity or treating a cold. Greater familiarity with the health.

Notes:

Vol. 8 Issue 2/3, p75-91 17p

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Abstract:

The Transgender Training Project of The New England AIDS Education and Training Center has been providing training on transgender-related issues to health-care providers in the New England region since 1999, having trained nearly 600 providers in that time. The Transgender Training Project embarked on a study during the 2001-2002 grant year to interview providers of HIV-related care and advocacy on their knowledge and experience with working with transgendered people and to assess training needs to increase their effectiveness with transgendered clients. The methodology consisted of face-to-face interviews with 13 providers of HIV treatment and care who are affiliated with the New England AIDS Education and Training Center network to discuss clinical challenges in working with transgendered people. In this exploratory study, we found that providers had: 1. Desire to treat transgendered patients respectfully but admitted discomfort and lack of tools for specific interviewing/assessments. 2. Experience with a range of transgendered patients, but lack of information on distinctions among transgendered experiences. 3. Restrictions based on time constraints that create an overarching barrier in building trusting relationships with clients, and trusting relationships are integral to quality care. 4. Concern and frustration with lack of information, studies and research. 5. Concern and frustration with lack of treatment guidelines, (or ability to access them), referral contacts and ways to advocate for transgender clients. 6. Belief that training by transgendered people themselves was an essential teaching element. These results point to the need for the development and dissemination of specific training materials and resources for health care providers serving transgendered people living with or at risk for HIV.

Your vote:

No votes yet

Abstract:

The transgender community is a population group that has experienced an increase in visibility, with only a small, concomitant increase in understanding. This study reports on four focus groups, in which 34 transgendered individuals discussed their experiences and interactions with the health care system. The specific aims of the study were as follows: • Identify the health needs of transgender and transsexual (TG/TS) individuals; • Hear the experiences and perceptions of TG/TS individuals who are using the current health care system; • Identify any barriers to obtaining services, support and/or resources; • Assess the extent to which health care providers and systems are able to offer sensitive, high quality and user friendly services that meet TG/TS consumers' needs; and • Identify ways that health care services can be enhanced to better meet the needs of the target population. What the study found was a system that was anything but high quality in meeting the needs of TG/TS individuals. Ignorance, insensitivity and discrimination appear to be the norm. Specifically, the focus groups found the following: • Transgendered and transsexual persons frequently encounter providers who will not treat them and blatantly say so. There is a need for education and a change in anti-discrimination law needed to change this. • The lack of provider training on transgender issues creates insensitivity to simple issues of respect for trans people. One example is the unwillingness to address TG/TS people by the pronoun preferred by the patient/client. • Many providers lack the knowledge to adequately treat many of the routine health care needs of TG/TS individuals when such treatment relates to issues of hormone use, gynecological care, HIV prevention counseling, or other concerns related to gender or sexuality. • Providers frequently refer to trans issues in unrelated health care situations such as setting a broken bone, filling a cavity or treating a cold. Greater familiarity with the health care needs of the trans population would reduce such incidents. • Mental health and substance abuse treatment providers need additional training in order to work cooperatively with TG/TS clients to identify when gender issues are or are not relevant to specific mental health or substance abuse treatment episodes. Sometimes gender issues are central to mental health or substance abuse treatment, sometimes they are peripheral and sometimes they are unrelated. • Discrimination in health insurance is the rule, not the exception. There is a need for education to encourage policy changes on the part of insurers and public policy changes on the part of legislators and regulators.