Health Information Seeking by People Navigating Masculinizing Transition Pathways in Switzerland: Communication Inequalities and Adaptive Approaches.

Abstract

Gender-diverse people considering transition pathways often navigate health information environments shaped by fragmented healthcare structures, uneven provider competence, and cisnormative health communication. This qualitative study explores how trans men and non-binary/agender people pursuing masculinizing transition pathways in Switzerland identify, evaluate, and use health information while navigating communication inequalities, institutional fragmentation, and cisnormative healthcare structures. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis informed by health information-seeking behavior (HISB) research and the structural influence model (SIM) of health communication. Participants described information gaps extending beyond gender-affirming care, reflecting a broader need for trans-inclusive knowledge about whole-person health, including mental health, sexual health, contraception, prevention, and everyday care. Trust in health information was conditional and relational: institutional sources were valued for medical authority, but participants questioned their trans-specific competence, inclusivity, and practical relevance. Peer networks, community platforms, and digital environments provided recognition, experiential knowledge, and practical guidance, while also requiring careful credibility assessment. Information seeking was further shaped by fragmented Swiss healthcare infrastructures, regional variation, inconsistent institutional responsiveness, and binary healthcare expectations, creating emotional and cognitive labor. The findings conceptualize HISB during masculinizing transition as adaptive navigation within structurally unequal communication environments-involving cross-checking sources, calibrating trust, anticipating misrecognition, and compensating for formal healthcare gaps. The study highlights the importance of trans-inclusive health communication, coordinated information infrastructures, provider training, and collaboration with community organizations. Situating masculinizing transition-related HISB within the Swiss context contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how structural conditions shape health information practices among trans men and non-binary/agender people.