Perspectives on expertise in teaching about transgender healthcare: A focus group study with health professional programme teaching staff and transgender community members

Treharne, Gareth J.; Blakey, Althea Gamble; Graham, Katie; Carrington, Samuel D.; McLachlan, Laurel A.; Withey-Rila, Cassie; Pearman-Beres, Louise J; Anderson, Lynley

doi:10.1080/26895269.2020.1870189

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Community ambassadors ranged in age from their 20s to 70s. All ambassadors had previously attended a focus group with just other transgender community members to hear about perspectives to share as ambassadors as part of the overall study (Treharne et al, in press).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The broad objective of the analysis presented in this article was to explore clinical psychology students’ perspectives on including transgender community members in teaching activities within their training program. This analysis was part of a broader study on teaching staff, students, and transgender community members’ views on the inclusion of transgender community members in multiple health professional programs at one university in Aotearoa New Zealand (Treharne et al, in press).…”

Section: Disparities In Health Carementioning

confidence: 99%

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Clinical psychology students’ perspectives on involving transgender community members in teaching activities within their training in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Hayward¹,

Treharne²

2022

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Transgender people experience physical and mental health disparities relative to cisgender people. These health disparities are maintained by a paucity of health care practitioners with knowledge of transgender health care. Clinical psychologists who apply gender affirming care are one of the central health care practitioners for transgender people. Educational interventions involving transgender community members can improve health practitioners' knowledge and attitudes about supporting transgender clients, particularly when delivered during training programs. The study aimed to explore the perspectives and educational needs of clinical psychology students in Aotearoa New Zealand around providing culturally competent care for transgender clients. Three focus groups were conducted with eight clinical psychology students across all years of training (n ϭ 3, 3, 2) alongside transgender community members (n ϭ 2, 2, 3) who attended as community "ambassadors" after community consultation. Thematic analysis of focus group data led to the development of three themes. The first theme was about how participants wanted to learn more about the experiences of transgender people so they could more confidently support transgender clients. The second theme was about how participants found that participating in a focus group with transgender ambassadors helped fill some gaps in their knowledge about transgender health care. The third theme was about the ways participants thought transgender community members could be included in teaching sessions, while balancing some logistical constraints in the clinical psychology program. These findings support the notion that clinical psychology students would benefit from learning about transgender health care during their training, particularly with input from transgender community members. Public Significance StatementClinical psychology students who participated in this study expressed a desire to learn more about providing care for transgender people; in particular, by involving transgender community members in teaching activities within their course. These findings support international research suggesting that education in training programs can equip health practitioners, like clinical psychologists, to support transgender clients in the future.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Disparities In Health Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical psychology students’ perspectives on involving transgender community members in teaching activities within their training in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Hayward¹,

Treharne²

2022

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

Self Cite

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“…The relevance of healthcare experiences for mental health builds on recent research demonstrating disparities in Aotearoa/New Zealand and expanding on the association of suicidality with experiences of discrimination and lower levels of general social support. 9 , 18 In this study, the findings are specific to the central role of primary care doctors. Our findings also build on existing models of mental health disparities related to cisnormativity associating with negative healthcare experience or lack of supportive experiences for transgender people.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“… 38 Our findings add to past research demonstrating collaborative processes that can enhance training. 17 , 18 Specifically, education is needed that builds transgender competence and confidence in provision of gender-affirming care so as to reduce educational burden from transgender people themselves. The outcomes of improved care for transgender people remains to be seen, but they will hopefully result in improved mental health outcomes and optimization of gender-affirming primary care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supportive interactions with primary care doctors are associated with better mental health among transgender people: results of a nationwide survey in Aotearoa/New Zealand

et al. 2022

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Background Past research has established that transgender people experience significant disparities in mental health outcomes and healthcare dissatisfaction compared with cisgender people, but more research is needed on how supportive healthcare interactions relate to the mental health of transgender people. Objectives The 2 main aims of our analyses were: (i) to establish the most common negative experiences in healthcare and the most common supportive experiences specifically with primary care doctors for transgender people; and (ii) to examine the association of supportive experiences with mental health variables after controlling for demographic factors. Methods Data from the 2018 Counting Ourselves nationwide survey of transgender people were analysed using regression modelling. The 948 participants with a primary care doctor or general practitioner were included in analyses. Participants were aged 14–83 years old (mean 30.20). Results The most common supportive experiences involved primary care doctors treating transgender people equitably, with competence, and with respect. Participants with more negative healthcare experiences had higher psychological distress as well as higher likelihood of reporting nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidality. Conversely, participants with more experiences of supportive primary care doctors had lower psychological distress and were less likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months. Conclusion When transgender people receive supportive care from their primary care providers they experience better mental health, despite ongoing negative healthcare experiences. Future research is needed to confirm ways of supporting positive trajectories of mental health for transgender people but these findings demonstrate the importance of positive aspects of care.

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“…One point of divergence was considering the role of health navigators. The health navigator role has been shown to overcome gaps in knowledge and experience for both HCPs and patients regarding the specific needs of TGD patients as they interact within the healthcare system [ 29 , 30 ]. HCPs viewed health navigators as beneficial for psychosocial support, navigating health systems, and easing the burden on HCPs to assist TGD patients in understanding and meeting their health needs, findings that align with prior research that identified navigators as central hubs in assisting with appointments and pre-operative tasks [ 11 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding community member and health care professional perspectives on gender-affirming care—A qualitative study

et al. 2021

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Background Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people experience significant barriers to accessing affirming health services. There is a paucity of literature examining how both community members and health care professionals (HCPs) understand potential causes and solutions for these barriers, particularly in non-urban settings. Objective We present the first systematic examination of perspectives from community members and HCPs regarding barriers to and solutions for promoting access to gender-affirming health care. Design Study activities were conducted through the Plan and Act for Transgender Health (PATH) Project, a health needs assessment of TGD people. Community members in the catchment area were recruited to participate in focus group discussions about access to gender-affirming health care and optimal health service delivery models in March-October 2019. HCPs were recruited to participate in focus group discussions or in-depth interviews about experiences working with TGD clients. Data were analyzed using an inductive grounded theory approach. Setting 25 rural counties in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Participants Study participants included 61 adult TGD community members and 23 HCPs working in the catchment area. Results Both community members and HCPs spoke of the need for connectedness and linkages among disparate health system components for gender-affirming health care. Participants expressed this priority through calls for systems-level improvements within existing services (e.g., expanded data collection, expanded mental health services, inclusive and affirming health care environments, and TGD staff). They also expressed the need for expanded TGD community outreach and engagement (e.g., incorporation of a patient feedback process, TGD health navigators, and resource mapping). Limitations Findings specifically reflect the perspectives of community members and HCPs in the rural New England area. Furthermore, the study sample was predominantly White non-Hispanic. Conclusion Interventions to achieve accessible gender-affirming health care must address the diverse perspectives and needs of both community members and HCPs.

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Perspectives on expertise in teaching about transgender healthcare: A focus group study with health professional programme teaching staff and transgender community members

Cited by 16 publications

References 46 publications

Clinical psychology students’ perspectives on involving transgender community members in teaching activities within their training in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Clinical psychology students’ perspectives on involving transgender community members in teaching activities within their training in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Supportive interactions with primary care doctors are associated with better mental health among transgender people: results of a nationwide survey in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Understanding community member and health care professional perspectives on gender-affirming care—A qualitative study

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