Abstract
Purpose: aTHeNA (a Trans Health Needs Assessment) is a pilot study exploring the perspectives and experiences of trans people in western Massachusetts on and with health care. This study examines research strategies and best practices to improve trans health care by prioritizing the knowledge and recommendations of trans and gender nonbinary people.Methods: aTHeNA is composed of a focus group of eight trans and gender nonbinary individuals held in western Massachusetts in January of 2016 and qualitative analysis of that focus group to synthesize themes. aTHeNA utilized an interdisciplinary approach. Concepts of respect, care, self-definition, and intersectionality informed study design and analysis.Results: Key participant recommendations include providing medical care that recognizes and values client self-knowledge, elimination of gender markers in insurance billing, and comprehensive health care team education across inpatient and outpatient settings.Conclusion: Focus group participants outlined the limitations of current services and envisioned possibilities for a more ideal system. Further research is needed to incorporate trans perspectives into health literature.
Highlights
ATHeNA is a pilot transgender health needs assessment, which engages a group of trans and gender non-binary individuals in western Massachusetts to share their knowledge and experience of existing health care systems and their visions for an ideal health care system
Discussion guide In preparation for the focus group, we met with an experienced facilitator of trans youth groups who identifies as AFAB and genderqueer
The primary authors shared goals for the focus group based on our research, and in collaboration with the facilitator, we created a discussion guide to serve as an outline for focus group discussion
Summary
ATHeNA (a Trans Health Needs Assessment) is a pilot transgender (trans) health needs assessment, which engages a group of trans and gender non-binary individuals in western Massachusetts to share their knowledge and experience of existing health care systems and their visions for an ideal health care system. It is well documented that transgender people in the United States and in Massachusetts face discrimination in and outside of health care settings.[1] Western Massachusetts is predominantly rural and regionally underrepresented in terms of trans health research in the state.[2,3,4,5] The rural and semirural parts of the region are predominantly white (non-Latinx). Trans people often travel substantial distances to seek care in the region; even in urban areas, there are a limited number of providers skilled in trans-affirming care
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