Methods: Members of the young adult transgender community in the Southwestern United States were interviewed regarding their experiences in the healthcare system. The interviews were recorded and field notes taken to record both “good” and “bad” healthcare experiences. The transcripts were analyzed using qualitative analysis and used to construct relevant case studies. The major content themes were organized using a casuistry framework to construct relevant case studies for use in healthcare education. These case studies provide a preliminary basis for amelioration of environmental healthcare barriers for transgender people.
Results: Findings of transcribed interviews (n=10) reveal common themes of severe anxiety about accessing the healthcare environment, insensitivity of healthcare providers, and shame about requesting gender affirming care in mainstream healthcare environments. The transcribed interviews revealed common themes of feelings of safety, validation, and normalcy when seeking care in gender inclusive healthcare spaces. All of the participants expressed that positive healthcare experiences contributed to positive feelings about their gender identity.
Conclusion: Transgender healthcare inequity is a multifaceted issue with lack of cultural sensitivity at the core of many healthcare access barriers. Lack of healthcare education contributes to access barriers by using heteronormative language, performing inadequate assessments, and perpetuating unwelcoming healthcare environments. The barriers created contribute to delays in care, which may result in untreated or undertreated chronic conditions which are treated earlier and better in the cisgender (non-transgender) community. Including transgender specific content in healthcare provider education will help decrease the barriers to healthcare experienced by the transgender population.