Bhatt Nita, Cannella Jesse, Gentile Julie P
Dr. Bhatt is Associate Director of Medical Student Education and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. Cannella is a medical student at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.
Innov Clin Neurosci. 2022 Apr-Jun;19(4-6):23-32.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, plus (LGBTQIA+ or LGBTQ+) individuals face a wide array of health disparities both within and separate from the healthcare system. Transgender patients are subject to microaggressions, misgendering, and harassment from providers, medical staff, and fellow patients. These patients experience drastic disparities in suicidality, depression, anxiety, substance use, malignancy, sexually transmitted disease (STD), and victimization of violence. Providers have the opportunity to intervene and positively impact patient experiences through gender-affirming care, but they first require an adequate knowledge base and understanding of the importance of sensitive and inclusive care. Seemingly small interventions, such as listing one's own pronouns, using gender-neutral language, validating and affirming patients, and utilizing appropriate mental and physical health screenings, can lead to significant impacts on the patient experience, health outcomes, and quality of life. This article will discuss some of the most common disparities and obstacles faced by transgender patients and will argue the paramount role of the provider in establishing gender-affirming care and some high-impact avenues which the provider, regardless of specialty, may pursue when caring for these patients.
女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、酷儿/存疑者、双性人、无性恋者以及其他(LGBTQIA+ 或 LGBTQ+)群体在医疗系统内外都面临着各种各样的健康差异。跨性别患者会受到医疗服务提供者、医护人员和其他患者的微歧视、性别错称和骚扰。这些患者在自杀倾向、抑郁、焦虑、药物使用、恶性肿瘤、性传播疾病(STD)以及暴力受害方面存在巨大差异。医疗服务提供者有机会通过性别肯定性护理进行干预并对患者体验产生积极影响,但他们首先需要有足够的知识基础,并理解敏感和包容护理的重要性。看似微小的干预措施,比如列出自己的代词、使用性别中立语言、认可和肯定患者,以及进行适当的身心健康筛查,都可能对患者体验、健康结果和生活质量产生重大影响。本文将讨论跨性别患者面临的一些最常见的差异和障碍,并论证医疗服务提供者在建立性别肯定性护理方面的至关重要作用,以及医疗服务提供者无论专业如何,在照顾这些患者时可以采用的一些具有重大影响的途径。