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Understanding Health Disparities in Transgender Populations
Purpose. Insufficient access to culturally competent physical and mental health care is a major determinant of health disparities in transgender populations. Information technology increases access to transgender sensitivity training for future and current health care workers as well as the general public. Using principles of instructional design, the module includes a video of interviews with transgender people and instructional aids.
Methods. The module was presented to two different classes at a midwestern university. Students (n=99) watched the video and engaged in learning activities with a facilitator, then completed a four-item assessment learning outcome attainment and provided optional qualitative comments.
Results. On a 1-5 likert scale (5=strongly agree), most respondents rated learning outcome attainment as “agree” or “strongly agree” for all four learning outcomes: 1) Discern inequalities in access to care for transgender people (76%); 2) Discuss inequalities in access to care (83%); 3) Describe barriers to care (80%); 4) Explain how power imbalances contribute to health disparities (84%). Qualitative comments reflected the lack of previous exposure to the transgender population and the need for education for future health care providers.
Conclusion. Rich media health information technologies in combination with facilitated interaction provide accessible, engaging methods to develop cultural competence and cultural humility in the future health care workforce as well as the general public. HIIT can be particularly valuable in providing a voice for invisible, diverse, and less vocal minorities to identify discrimination, barriers to care and persistent disparities in care.
Learning Areas:
Ethics, professional and legal requirementsPlanning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Learning Objectives:
Assess inequalities in access to care for transgender people
Discuss inequalities in access to care
List barriers to care
Analyze advantages of using HIIT to provide culturally competent care to diverse populations
Keyword(s): Gender, Cultural Competency
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Executive Producer and project director of the online module, Health Care Disparities in the Transgender Population. I have facilitated this module in numerous courses and in community settings. My research focuses on the use of technology in pedagogical settings and I am the Director of Online Education in the School of Public Health-Bloomington.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.