Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs: Advanced Practice Providers and Transgender Adult Patients in the Emergency Department.

Abstract

Transgender individuals face significant discrimination in daily life and disproportionately high health disparities compared to the general population, including elevated rates of poverty, substance abuse, and mental health challenges. When seeking emergency department care in the United States, they encounter additional barriers such as stigma, lack of provider cultural competence, and limited clinical experience with transgender patients. These barriers often lead transgender people to delay or avoid emergency healthcare, resulting in poorer health outcomes.This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Advanced Practice Providers toward transgender adult patients, comparing those with less than three years of ED experience to those with more. A qualitative, 20-question Likert-scale KAB survey was conducted online to assess differences between groups. Primary findings revealed differences in perceptions that could inform transgender-focused educational initiatives within healthcare institutions, guide practice modifications among APPs, and improve outcomes for transgender patients in emergency care settings.