Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #98068

Emily Newfield, MS, School of Medicine, University of California,San Francisco, 266 Richland Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, 415-642-1239, enewfiel@itsa.ucsf.edu, Lori Kohler, MD, Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 20, Ward 83, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94143-SFGH, Stacey Hart, PhD, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, Box VAMC - 116A, Veterans Affairs Medical Center - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-VAMC, and Suzanne L. Dibble, DNSc, Institute of Health & Aging, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 340, San Francisco, CA 94118.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated health-related quality of life in female-to-male (FTM) transgender individuals, using the Short-Form 36-Question Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2). METHODS: Using email, internet bulletin boards, and postcards, individuals were recruited to an internet site (www.transurvey.org), which contained a demographic survey and the SF36v2. Over a twelve month period, 446 people who identify as either FTM transgender, FTM transsexual, or male, completed the surveys. RESULTS: Analysis of quality of life health concepts demonstrated statistically significant (P < .05) diminished quality of life among the FTM transgender subjects as compared to the US male and female population, particularly in regard to mental health. FTM transgender people who received testosterone (68%) and those who received chest surgery (37%) had statistically significant higher quality of life scores (P < .01) than those who had not. CONCLUSIONS: FTM transgender people demonstrated significantly reduced mental health-related quality of life and require additional focus to determine the cause of this distress. Providing this community with the hormonal and surgical care they request is associated with improved quality of life.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

2. Describe the characteristics of a transgender identity and articulate some of the health risks in the transgender community.
4. Relate the concept of health-related quality of life to the goals of the transgender health treatment.
6. Recognize the utility and usefulness of the Internet in transgender health research.
8. Identify ways to improve healthcare and health research in the transgender community.

Keywords: Quality of Life,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation