“It’s a patient safety issue” A qualitative study with care professionals on their experiences of meeting trans people in obstetric and gynaecological care

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this explorative study was to analyse how encounters with trans people in the obstetrics and gynaecological department are experienced by healthcare professionals and what needs to be implemented in practice to improve these encounters. MethodsSix participants – physicians, midwives, and a nurse, from four different regions in Sweden – were interviewed, and the interviews were then analysed following inductive thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. ResultsThe analysis of the interviews resulted in three themes: “Lack of structure, organization, and medical competence”; “Engaged healthcare professionals push the work forward”; and “Working continuously to improve access to healthcare and the clinical encounter”. The results indicated that the participating healthcare professionals experienced shortcomings regarding different aspects of encountering trans people in care settings. These concerned, for example, structure and organization of care, guidelines, routines, and administrative systems, and a lack of medical competence when it comes to trans people. ConclusionThe results can be interpreted as indicating that there is an inequality in access to healthcare compared to cis people (those who identify with their gender assigned at birth). However, the study also shows that actions can be taken at both the individual level and the organizational level. Education about how to encounter trans people and having clear guidelines and routines are among the improvements that are needed to be more respectful towards trans people and to provide healthcare on equal terms as to cis people.