Transgender People’s Experiences Sharing Information With Clinicians: A Focus Group–Based Qualitative Study

• DOI: 10.1370/afm.3010
• Publication Date: 2023-09-25T22:20:17Z
• Authors: Ash B. Alpert; Jamie E. Mehringer; Sunshine J. Orta; Tresne Hernandez; Emile F. Redwood; Lexis Rivers; Charlie Manzano; Roman Ruddick; Spencer Adams; Jae Sevelius; Emma Belanger; Don Operario; Jennifer J. Griggs
• Keywords: Debriefing

<h3>PURPOSE</h3> Investigating transgender people's experiences sharing health information in clinical encounters may yield insights for family medicine clinicians. <h3>METHODS</h3> This was a qualitative study using community-based participatory research approach and interpretive description methodology. Seven focus groups were conducted with 30 adults living North America. We used purposive sampling to ensure diversity. The transcribed verbatim, 2 investigators independently reviewed coded each transcript, then they mutually the transcripts, reconciled their coding, summarized codes into themes. Themes community members, participants, uninvolved clinically oriented member checking peer debriefing. <h3>RESULTS</h3> Four themes noted: (1) people often perceive clinicians' questions as voyeuristic, stigmatizing, or self-protective; (2) patients describe being pathologized, denied given substandard care, harmed when clinicians learned are transgender; (3) frequently choose between risking stigma ineffective problem solving if do not have all about medical histories; (4) improving safety of is difficult context contemporary systems. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> Transgender must potentially suboptimal care. Improvements culture, policies, procedures, data collection tools necessary improve quality care people. Institutional systems changes be required safely effectively implement sexual orientation gender identity (SOGI) settings.