Polish mental and sexual health specialists working with transgender and gender diverse persons - who are they and what is their background?

Abstract

This study aimed to present the demographic and professional characteristics of Polish mental and sexual health specialists (MSHS) and their experience in clinical work with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the LimeSurvey platform. A total of 239 MSHS with a diverse professional background, at different stages of their careers, with experience of working with TGD patients, completed the survey. Participants were asked to provide demographic (e.g., gender and sexual identity) and professional (e.g., knowledge of leading standards and guidelines of care) data. Descriptive statistics were used. The mean age of participants was 39.5 years (SD 7.92) and the majority were assigned female at birth (73.2%). The sample was composed predominantly of psychotherapists (70%), then psychologists (53%), medical doctors (31%) and certified sexologists (5.9%). The majority (72%) practised in large cities (>500,000); 68.6% reported female gender identity, 24.7% a male identity and 6.3% were TGD; 63.2% were heterosexual, 12.1% homosexual, 12.6% bisexual, and 12.1% reported other sexual identity. Both the significance of religion and religious practice were significantly decreased compared to general Polish population. Most participants declared that they either do not know the basic guidelines of care for TGD people at all or know them very little. The majority of MSHS rated their professional training as insufficient. People providing clinical services to TGD patients are a professionally diverse group. There is an urgent need to expand and intensify professional training directed at MSHS on topics related to the health care dedicated to TGD people.