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Health professionals' factual knowledge and changing attitudes toward transsexuals
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Medical professionals show more liberal attitudes toward transsexual patients and sex reassignment surgery compared to 1966. General practitioners remain conservative, while clinical psychologists are most liberal, with no knowledge differences found.
Area of Science:
- Medical sociology
- Psychiatry
- Gender studies
Background:
- Attitudes towards transsexualism have evolved.
- Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess current knowledge and attitudes of various medical professionals regarding transsexuality.
- To compare contemporary views with historical data from 1966.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 202 general practitioners, obstetrician-gynecologists, urologists, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists.
- Random sampling was employed, with findings prudently interpreted due to a low return rate.
Main Results:
- A significant trend towards more liberal and favorable attitudes was observed across all specialties since 1966.
- General practitioners exhibited the most conservative views, whereas clinical psychologists demonstrated the most liberal stances.
- No significant differences in factual knowledge about transsexuality were found among the surveyed groups.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals' attitudes toward transsexual patients and sex reassignment surgery have become more favorable over time.
- While general knowledge is consistent, attitudinal variations persist among different medical specialties, with psychologists leading in liberal perspectives.
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