Primary Care Clinicians’ Willingness to Care for Transgender Patients

Abstract

Transgender patients report negative experiences in health care settings, but little is known about clinicians' willingness to see transgender patients. We surveyed 308 primary care clinicians in an integrated Midwest health system and 53% responded. Most respondents were willing to provide routine care to transgender patients (85.7%) and Papanicolaou (Pap) tests (78.6%) to transgender men. Willingness to provide routine care decreased with age; willingness to provide Pap tests was higher among family physicians, those who had met a transgender person, and those with lower transphobia. Medical education should address professional and personal factors related to caring for the transgender population to increase access.

Correlations between healthcare provider interactions and mental health among transgender and nonbinary adults

“…To help providers offer affirming care to TNB patients, provider education embedded into the medical school curriculum, as compared to one-off trainings throughout providers’ careers, is recommended (MacFarlane, 2018, p. 2046344875). Practitioners in some fields, such as nursing (Kellett & Fitton, 2017), obstetrics and gynecology (Stroumsa & Wu, 2018), and primary care (Shires, Stroumsa, Jaffee, & Woodford, 2018), have already called for less gendered language and more education for providers throughout their training, as well as continuing education as knowledge changes and new research becomes available.…”

Insurance Coverage and Use of Hormones Among Transgender Respondents to a National Survey

“…Despite this clear need, transgender people face a host of structural barriers to accessing care, ranging from high rates of homelessness attributable to rejection and discrimination, through lack of knowledgeable and affirming clinicians, [15][16][17] to transphobia 18 and direct discrimination in health care settings. 19 In addition, many transgender people in the United States face barriers to insurance coverage for gender-affirming care.…”

Commentary: Valuing the Vulnerable – The Important Role of Transgender Communities in Biomedical Research

“…The good news is that surveys of primary care providers demonstrate the majority are willing and ready to provide care for transgender patients. 19 Finding respect, care, diligence and understanding. Providers must also become familiar with the basics of gender affirming care including use of preferred pronouns, name and carrying this affirmation across the psychological (resisting transphobia), medical (hormonal therapies, surgeries) and legal (legal name change) components of transgender care.…”

“…Self-advocacy and awareness of the characteristics of gender affirming care will help identify practices that are transgender-friendly. 19 Given that the life histories of many transgender persons include stigma, discrimination and even violence, having access to trauma-informed care is also essential. 20 For providers, there are guidelines to assist in the care of the transgender patient.…”