Transgender Care by Endocrinologists in the United States
OBJECTIVE:
Little
is known about the attitudes and practice patterns of transgender care by
endocrinologists. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge,
practice patterns, access and competency among a representative sample of
endocrinologists in the MidAtlantic region of the United States.
METHODS:
An
anonymous 19 item paper survey was administered to 80 conference attendees that
included 61 adult endocrinologists, 13 endocrinology fellows, 2 pediatric
endocrinologists and 4 nurse practitioners/physician assistants.
RESULTS:
The
participation rate was estimated to be ~80%. Sixty three percent of
endocrinology providers were willing to provide transgender care but the
majority of providers had no current transgender patients under their care. Half
of providers had read the Endocrine Society's clinical practice guidelines with
a rate of 70% among those under age 40. Nonetheless, only 20% were
"very" comfortable in discussing gender identity and/or sexual
orientation and 41% described themselves as "somewhat" or
"very" competent to provider transgender care.
CONCLUSION:
Endocrinologists
and other providers have received more education and training on transgender
care within the past decade. Nevertheless, many participants have had little
opportunity to care for transgender patients and they rate their competency to
do so as low. Research is needed on how to increase comfort levels regarding
gender identity among those who provider care to transgender patients.
- 1From: Division of Endocrinology and Center for Andrology, The George Washington University, Washington DC, United States.
- Endocr Pract. 2016 Feb 26.
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