Journal article
Reported Emergency Department Avoidance, Use, and Experiences of Transgender Persons in Ontario, Canada: Results From a Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey
Annals of emergency medicine, v 63(6), pp 713-720
01 Jun 2014
PMID: 24184160
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Study objective: Transgender, transsexual, or transitioned (trans) people have reported avoiding medical care because of negative experiences or fear of such experiences. The extent of trans-specific negative emergency department (ED)experiences, and of ED avoidance, has not been documented.
Methods: The Trans PULSE Project conducted a survey of trans people in Ontario, Canada (n=433) in 2009 to 2010, using respondent-driven sampling, a tracked network-based method for studying hidden populations. Weighted frequencies and bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals (Cis) were estimated for the trans population in Ontario and for the subgroup (n=167) reporting ED use in their felt gender.
Results: Four hundred eight participants completed the ED experience items. Trans people were young (34% aged 16 to 24 years and only 10% >55 years); approximately half were female-to-male and half male-to-female. Medically supervised hormones were used by 37% (95% Cl 30% to 46%), and 27% (95% Cl 20% to 35%) had at least 1 transitionrelated surgery. Past-year ED need was reported by 33% (95% Cl 26% to 40%) of trans Ontarians, though only 71% (95% Cl 40% to 91%) of those with self-reported need indicated that they were able to obtain care. An estimated 21% (95% Cl 14% to 25%) reported ever avoiding ED care because of a perception that their trans status would negatively affect such an encounter. Trans-specific negative ED experiences were reported by 52% (95% Cl 34% to 72%) of users presenting in their felt gender.
Conclusion: This first exploratory analysis of ED avoidance, utilization, and experiences by trans persons documented ED avoidance and possible unmet need for emergency care among trans Ontarians. Additional research, including validation of measures, is needed.
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Details
- Title
- Reported Emergency Department Avoidance, Use, and Experiences of Transgender Persons in Ontario, Canada: Results From a Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey
- Creators
- Greta R. Bauer - Western UniversityAyden I. Scheim - Western UniversityMadeline B. Deutsch - Los Angeles LGBT CenterCarys Massarella - St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
- Publication Details
- Annals of emergency medicine, v 63(6), pp 713-720
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- MOP-106478 / Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000337115100016
- Other Identifier
- 991020100076804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Emergency Medicine