Carlos G Torres1, Megan Renfrew2, Karey Kenst3,4, Aswita Tan-McGrory3,4, Joseph R Betancourt1,2,3,4, Lenny López5,6,7,8,9. 1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 2. Partners HealthCare, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 3. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 4. Disparities Solutions Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 5. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. lopezlenny77@gmail.com. 6. Partners HealthCare, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. lopezlenny77@gmail.com. 7. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. lopezlenny77@gmail.com. 8. Disparities Solutions Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. lopezlenny77@gmail.com. 9. Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St, Suite 901, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, USA. lopezlenny77@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transgender (TG) individuals experience discordance between their sex at birth and their gender identity. To better understand the health care needs and characteristics of TG youth that contribute to resilience, we conducted a qualitative study with clinical and non-clinical providers. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted of providers (n = 11) of TG youth (ages 13-21). Convenience and purposive sampling were used to recruit participants in the Boston area. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. An interview guide of 14 open-ended questions was used to guide the discussion. A grounded theory approach was utilized to code and analyze the data, including double-coding to address issues of inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: Five primary themes emerged: 1) resilience of TG youth 2) lack of access to services that influence health, 3) the critical role of social support, 4) challenges in navigating the health care system, and 5) the need for trans-affirming competency training for providers and frontline staff. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that providers recognize multiple barriers and challenges in the care of TG youth. However, they also identify the resilience exhibited by many youth. We propose that providers can further enhance the resilience of TG youth and help them flourish by offering them necessary resources via the creation of safe and welcoming clinical environments.
BACKGROUND: Transgender (TG) individuals experience discordance between their sex at birth and their gender identity. To better understand the health care needs and characteristics of TG youth that contribute to resilience, we conducted a qualitative study with clinical and non-clinical providers. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted of providers (n = 11) of TG youth (ages 13-21). Convenience and purposive sampling were used to recruit participants in the Boston area. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. An interview guide of 14 open-ended questions was used to guide the discussion. A grounded theory approach was utilized to code and analyze the data, including double-coding to address issues of inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: Five primary themes emerged: 1) resilience of TG youth 2) lack of access to services that influence health, 3) the critical role of social support, 4) challenges in navigating the health care system, and 5) the need for trans-affirming competency training for providers and frontline staff. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that providers recognize multiple barriers and challenges in the care of TG youth. However, they also identify the resilience exhibited by many youth. We propose that providers can further enhance the resilience of TG youth and help them flourish by offering them necessary resources via the creation of safe and welcoming clinical environments.
Authors: Norman P Spack; Laura Edwards-Leeper; Henry A Feldman; Scott Leibowitz; Francie Mandel; David A Diamond; Stanley R Vance Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-02-20 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Daniel N Thompson-Blum; Todd A Coleman; Natalie E Phillips; Sean Richardson; Robb Travers; Simon Coulombe; Ciann Wilson; Michael Woodford; Ruth Cameron; Charlie Davis Journal: Transgend Health Date: 2021-12-02
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