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Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Students' knowledge, comfort, attitudes, and training on oral health of transgender individuals: A pilot study
Callie J Hanson1, Yvette G Reibel2, Drew Christianson1
1Department of Primary Dental Care, Division of Dental Therapy, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Purpose:
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate students' knowledge, comfort, attitudes, and formal training on oral health of transgender individuals.
Methods:
A single-site cross-sectional study of 223 students from four educational programs were invited to participate in this study. A 17-item survey was modified from two previous instruments with permission. The electronic survey was disseminated via Google Forms two times 6 weeks a part. Analyses were conducted using R version 4.1.1. Survey responses were summarized as means and standard deviations. Comparisons of survey responses by program type, age group, prior degree, and gender were performed using the chi-square test for association and analysis of variance.
Results:
A total of118 completed the survey for a 53% response rate. Students disagreed (26.3%) they had knowledge on hormone treatments or non-hormonal treatment (40.7%) and strongly disagreed (40.7%) they had knowledge on oral manifestations of hormonal or non-hormonal therapies. Students strongly agreed they are comfortable treating transgender patients (63.6%) and believe it is the responsibility of all healthcare providers to care for transgender patients (83.1%). Students disagreed they are prepared to care for transgender patients (40.7%) or that their faculty demonstrate competency caring for transgender patients undergoing hormonal treatment (21.4%).
Conclusion:
Students are comfortable providing oral health care to transgender individuals and feel a responsibility to care for them. Formal training on hormonal and non-hormonal therapy for transgender individuals is needed in dental education programs to enhance students' knowledge and faculty competence.
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