Exploring health care experiences of transgender people living in Texas

• Published in: Nursing outlook Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 476 - 483
• Main Authors: Hendrickson, Sherry Garrett, Contreras, Claire V., Schiller, Erika, Walsh, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Multimethod; Nursing; Policy; Qualitative descriptive; Transgender health care; Policy; Transgender health care; Qualitative descriptive; Multimethod
• ISSN: 0029-6554; 1528-3968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.02.002

Although the transgender population in the United States is greater than 1.4 million, health care experiences in this group are underaddressed. To explore the health care experiences of transgender people in Texas. This was an exploratory, sequential multimethod study. In Phase 1, to identify key health-related topics, a self-selected sample of 14 participants completed an online survey. In Phase 2, the focus was understanding care experiences for 12 participants using audio-recorded interviews and theme identification. NVivo software was used for data management. In Phase 1, findings included needing to: educate providers (89%), correct care staff on pronoun use (75%), tolerate staff's refusal to use one's preferred pronoun (50%). In Phase 2, four themes emerged: discrimination, provider practices, challenges to navigating the health care system, and gender identity. Valuing transgender experiences is a first step in addressing care gaps. Change will require provider introspection and application of care guidelines. •Online survey participants identified providers poorly educated on transgender care, pronoun misuse, and insurance practices, as compromising health care access.•Interview participants described multiple instances of discrimination, poor provider practices, access challenges, and gender identity denial.•Policy implications: support laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex and bias.•Potential for change by valuing transgender experiences and self-education on care.•Standards of care from expert sources do exist e.g. https://transcare.ucsf.edu