RESEARCH ARTICLE
Education of the medical profession to facilitate delivery of transgender health care in an Australian health district
Maansi AroraA , Kaete WalkerB , Judy LuuCD , Robbert J. DuvivierCE , Tinashe DuneF and Katie WynneCDG+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Department of Mental Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.
C University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia.
D Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
E Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Passievruchtstraat 2, 2552, The Hague, The Netherlands.
F School of Science & Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email:KatieJane.Wynne@health.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 26(1) 17-23 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY19102
Submitted: 12 May 2019 Accepted: 6 September 2019 Published: 19 November 2019
Abstract
Transgender individuals who desire medical transition need to access care through their local healthcare system. This is the first study to explore the perceptions of the community and attitudes of healthcare providers towards the delivery of transgender health care in an Australian context. An anonymous survey was conducted of trans and gender-diverse community members; and physicians and trainees in the Hunter New England Local Health District of New South Wales, Australia. Community members were surveyed about their healthcare experiences. Medical students, GPs and hospital physicians were surveyed on their attitudes towards the delivery of transgender health care before and after a 1-h education session that included the lived experience of a community member. Community members expressed a need for increased education for healthcare providers in transgender medicine. Following the intervention, significantly more healthcare providers felt confident to facilitate transgender health care for adults, adolescents and children; and more healthcare providers agreed that medical and surgical treatment should be offered to transgender patients if desired. The positive safety profile of treatment was felt to be the most persuasive factor for the provision of care. Healthcare providers identified a need for health education in transgender medicine; easy access to evidence-based resources; and local referral pathways as key strategies to improving transgender health care.
Additional keywords: access to care, barriers to care, biological determinants, gender identity, gender transition, health education/training programs, transgender/transsexual.
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