Considerations for Providing Pediatric Gender-Affirmative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Roberts, Stephanie; Williams, Coleen; Grimstad, Frances

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.08.018

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“… 23 The need to socially distance and quarantine has led many individuals to be cut off from vital social supports in their community, such as chosen family and school support, and to possibly be at the mercy of non-affirming home environments. 11 – 15 , 19 With this in mind, it is very clear that GAC is an absolute, lifesaving necessity and needed to continue with as little interference as possible despite the ongoing pandemic. 12 , 16 , 17 Telehealth services offered this necessary continuity of care, as well as an opportunity to address increasing mental health distress.…”

Section: Pandemic Considerations For Tgd Youthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 11 – 15 , 19 With this in mind, it is very clear that GAC is an absolute, lifesaving necessity and needed to continue with as little interference as possible despite the ongoing pandemic. 12 , 16 , 17 Telehealth services offered this necessary continuity of care, as well as an opportunity to address increasing mental health distress. 23 …”

Section: Pandemic Considerations For Tgd Youthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Safety and wellbeing have become even more paramount during COVID-19 as a variety of clinical concerns have been exacerbated, particularly for LGBTQ youth. 10 – 22 …”

Section: Clinic Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data has demonstrated that LGBTQ youth, especially TGD youth, are at greater risk for family rejection and hostility. 11 – 15 , 19 With this in mind, confidentiality, and privacy are of the utmost importance, as youth are often in their homes with family located in close proximity. 15 Our MH clinicians directly discuss confidentiality/privacy with youth and their families, typically at the beginning of appointments, to set appropriate expectations and boundaries.…”

Section: Clinic Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Providing essential gender-affirming telehealth services to transgender youth during COVID-19: A service review

McGregor

Williams

Botta³

et al. 2022

J Telemed Telecare

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant effects on service delivery for transgender and gender diverse youth. Many in-person services were suspended in response to the need to follow quarantine and social-distancing guidelines, at both the state and national levels. In response, our pediatric gender clinic adopted a rapid implementation of telehealth services to provide access to gender affirming care. However, there exists little guidance on how to provide gender-affirming care via these platforms. In this article, we provide a narrative review of the development of a full-scale model for delivering telehealth services to transgender and gender diverse youth and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of telehealth services for transgender and gender-diverse youth and focus on the continued need for advocacy around systemic barriers to care.

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Section: Pandemic Considerations For Tgd Youthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Pandemic Considerations For Tgd Youthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Safety and wellbeing have become even more paramount during COVID-19 as a variety of clinical concerns have been exacerbated, particularly for LGBTQ youth. 10 – 22 …”

Section: Clinic Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Clinic Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Providing essential gender-affirming telehealth services to transgender youth during COVID-19: A service review

McGregor

Williams

Botta³

et al. 2022

J Telemed Telecare

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…During the pandemic, many gender diverse youth have experienced a delay in the course of gender-affirming medical procedures and may have even been told that these interventions can wait or are elective 43 , 44 . Similarly, in our study, the pandemic also interfered with access to gender-affirming medical care and treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Connectedness Matters: Depression and Anxiety in Transgender Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tüzün

Başar

Akgül

2022

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

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Background Gender-affirming and supportive relations for transgender youth are considered protective in terms of mental health. Aim To describe how transgender youth perceived changes in their gender expression, in the course of the gender-affirming path, and the effect of social connectedness and social support on depression and anxiety during the pandemic. Methods In this cross-sectional study, transgender youth completed an online survey developed to evaluate the perceived changes in gender expression and affirmation path that occurred during COVID-19 and the age-stratified lockdown. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the effect of social connectedness and social support on depression and anxiety in this population during the pandemic. The participants completed the following scales: Social Connectedness Scale Revised (SCS-R), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The effect of lockdown on life conditions, gender expression, social and medical gender-affirming path, social connectedness, social support, depression, and anxiety levels were examined. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between BDI and STAI scores and other variables. Outcomes The relationship between the levels of perceived social connectedness, and social support, the pandemic-related changes in living conditions and depression and anxiety scores were calculated. Results A total of 49 transgender youth with a mean age of 20.53 ± 1.86 years were enrolled. Participants reporting discomfort at the place they live and who had difficulties concerning gender expression and affirmation had higher depression and anxiety scores and perceived lower social support from their family. Social connectedness score was a significant negative predictor of depression severity, whereas social connectedness and social support were both significant negative predictors of anxiety severity. Clinical Implications Our results show increased adversity for transgender youth when connectedness with supportive people is diminished. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social connectedness and social support perceived by transgender youth are associated with better mental health. Strengths and Limitations This is one of the first studies to evaluate the changes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in transgender youth with relation to social support and connectedness, during an age-stratified lockdown. The main limitations were the small study size, skewed gender ratio and that the study sample came from a single gender clinic. Conclusion As social connectedness and social support are significant predictors of depression and anxiety severity, special attention is needed to increase contact and support for transgender youth during the ...

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The Use of Telemedicine in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

Shim

Kaur

Laufer

et al. 2022

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

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Considerations for Providing Pediatric Gender-Affirmative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 8 publications

References 17 publications

Providing essential gender-affirming telehealth services to transgender youth during COVID-19: A service review

Providing essential gender-affirming telehealth services to transgender youth during COVID-19: A service review

Social Connectedness Matters: Depression and Anxiety in Transgender Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Use of Telemedicine in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

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