TransCare Initiative: An Institutional Knowledge-to-Action Project for Surgery and Gender Equity Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Health Equity
• LGBTQ+ Health

Background:

• The transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) population is rapidly expanding.
• Current surgeon education and training have not kept pace with the growing need for TGNC-competent care.
• There is a critical need to assess the current understanding and preparedness of surgical teams to treat TGNC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the department-wide understanding, awareness, and comfort levels of surgical faculty and trainees in treating TGNC patients.
• To identify specific educational and training gaps related to TGNC healthcare within a surgical department.
• To inform the development of targeted educational interventions to improve TGNC surgical care.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to surgery faculty and trainees at an urban referral center.
• The survey assessed personal perceptions, prior healthcare training/experience, comfort providing care, and barriers to access for TGNC patients.
• Data were collected using 24 Likert scale items and 6 multiple-choice demographic questions over a 4-week period.

Main Results:

• A 47.59% response rate was achieved, with equal participation from trainees and attendings.
• While most respondents demonstrated awareness of TGNC health risks and access barriers, significant disparities in knowledge and comfort were noted.
• Over 40% reported discomfort with comprehensive history taking and physical exams for TGNC patients, despite feeling capable of providing adequate care.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities exist in the knowledge, skills, and comfort levels required for inclusive TGNC surgical care.
• Awareness of unique TGNC health needs and access barriers is present, but self-perceived experience does not align with necessary competencies.
• Targeted educational initiatives are essential to bridge the identified gaps and ensure optimal surgical care for TGNC individuals.