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Transgender patients' experiences of health care

10 December 2020
Professional
02 December 2020
Volume 29 · Issue 22

Abstract

Background:

Transgender individuals can have complex health needs, in both trans and non-trans related health, experiencing higher levels of discrimination and disadvantages in accessing health care. The health needs of the transgender community are not consistent with the wider population, so individuals are often required to research services to meet their needs which can contribute to a reluctance in accessing health care.

Aim:

To analyse existing literature on transgender patients experiences of health care.

Method:

A search was performed of online databases (CINAHL, Medline, AMED, PubMed, ASSIA, PsychINFO, Web of Science and Scopus) and six studies were reviewed and analysed.

Findings:

Three main themes emerged: health professionals' knowledge and attitudes, navigating the system, and vulnerability and avoidance of health care.

Conclusion:

The literature suggests that few encounters with health professionals were positive and that a lack of healthcare knowledge on trans-related issues and discrimination were the leading causes for dissatisfaction when accessing health services.

The umbrella term transgender is used to describe individuals whose sexual identity or gender expression is different from that assigned at birth (Kattari and Hasche, 2016). The health care needs of this population can be complex and individuals face many barriers to accessing health and support services. Within the wider LGBTQI community there are higher levels of depression and poorer mental health than the general population (Hudson-Sharp and Metcalf, 2016); however, the international literature suggests that, within this community, transgender individuals are at higher risk of depression and suicide relative to non-transgender individuals (Su et al, 2016; Hunt et al, 2020; Parr and Howe, 2019). The Equality and Human Rights Commission (2015) highlights the fact that transgender individuals experience discrimination and disadvantages in accessing health care.

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Transgender health care
Transgender health
LGBTQI
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex
Transgender
Transsexual
Trans