Transgender Individuals and Digital Health

Abstract

Purpose of review The goal of this review is to assess the use of digital technologies to promote the health and well-being of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. Recent findings TGD individuals experience numerous health disparities, including low uptake of HIV prevention strategies, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, increased HIV incidence, and suboptimal HIV-related outcomes. These health disparities are the result of widespread intersectional stigma on the basis of gender identity, gender expression, socioeconomic class, race, and ethnicity, which negatively impact access to general medical and transgender-specific health care. TGD individuals often delay or avoid essential medical services due to fear of discrimination. Clinicians frequently lack training, competence, and skills in transgender medicine, further exacerbating the health disparities faced by TGD people. Digital technologies have been used to improve research and clinical care for TGD populations through various modalities; telemedicine, telehealth and mHealth. Summary Digital health technologies, including HIT-enabled clinical decision support, telehealth, telemedicine, and mHealth, offer innovative ways to improve health care access, improve quality of care, and reduce health disparities for TGD populations, including and beyond HIV outcomes, through enhanced care delivery, clinician education, and enhancing social support networks.

People affected by cancer and their carers from gender and sexually diverse communities: their experiences and the role of smartphone applications

“…Participants described that peer support could be delivered in apps through the inclusion of chat rooms. Peer connections via e-health technologies have similarly been identified as an area of need among transgender people [ 52 ] and men from sexual minorities [ 53 ]. Peer support is available widely online, however participants described that including peer support forums within apps, such as chat rooms, could promote inclusivity and bridge the gap between LGBTQIA + peer support and cancer peer support.…”

Protocol for a scoping review of literature on digital sexual, reproductive, and gender health care for LGBTQI+ youth

“…1) information delivered online on websites (e.g., World Health Organisation [WHO], 2022; Magee et al, 2012) or through online education programmes (e.g., Mustanski et al, 2015;Lacombe-Duncan et al, 2021); 2) advice and support online which may involve use of telecommunication such as video calls, live chats, email, or text services with charity or community-based organisation staff or peers (e.g., Radix et al, 2022;Skeen & Cain, 2022); and 3) clinical care provided online, such as STI/HIV self-sampling kits and test results (e.g., Bauermeister et al, 2015;Estcourt et al, 2017;Hottes et al, 2012;Ling et al, 2010;Brugha et al, 2011);PrEP (ePrEP;Kincaid et al, 2021); partner notification (PN) and testing options (e.g., Golden et al, 2022;Flowers et al, 2021;Mimiaga et al, 2008); and consultations (eConsult) and telemedicine (e.g., Sequeira et al, 2021;Lucas et al, 2023).…”

“…This will be inclusive of research into services and interventions. Services refer to digital GHC designed for LGBTQI+ youth for help-seeking, such as information, telecommunication, or clinical care (e.g., electronic consultation (e-consult); counselling; and access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (Radix et al, 2022). Interventions refer to digital strategies that have been developed to change a specific GH related behaviour or outcome for LGBTQI+ youth, such as education programmes, (e.g., to increase knowledge and understanding or decision making about GHC; Salvetti et al, 2022), including digital versions of services typically delivered in person (e.g., Shipherd et al, 2016;Blosnich et al, 2019).…”

A Transgender Health Information Resource: Participatory Design Study

“…Reported facilitators included being more engaged and having increased self-agency, whereas barriers included inconsistent access to the internet and smartphones. Radix et al [ 48 ] concluded that the use of health ITs (HITs) provides opportunities to improve the quality of care for TGD individuals. Not only can HIT solutions be designed to offer education and support addressing the social determinants of health, but the community also favors these solutions [ 48 ].…”

“…Radix et al [ 48 ] concluded that the use of health ITs (HITs) provides opportunities to improve the quality of care for TGD individuals. Not only can HIT solutions be designed to offer education and support addressing the social determinants of health, but the community also favors these solutions [ 48 ].…”