Accepted Type
Dedicated Poster
Code
P5 - 06
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
yes
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Poster
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Other
Presenter Other
Faculty
Affiliation
Title
Evaluation of an on-line transgender health training program
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
TransEd is an online transgender health education curriculum developed to address the paucity of
training in transgender health in healthcare professional schools. A study of six medical schools in
Canada found that only two devoted more than eight hours of instruction to transgender related
curriculum while the remaining allocated less than 4 hours of instruction. Self-reported comfort level
showed that only 7% of students across Canadian medical schools actually felt "sufficiently
knowledgeable" to assist a patient requesting hormonal therapy. TransEd is an innovative online
curriculum that was developed through a grant from the Ministry of Training Colleges and
Universities in 2015 to address this gap in education in medical training. This project looks at
evaluating the effectiveness of an online TransEd program to address the knowledge gap, attitudes
and comfort level in providing transgender healthcare.
Methods
This project used the Kirkpatrick's four levels of training framework which is considered a gold
standard for evaluating training programs. A mixed-methods approach using surveys and focus
groups was implemented. After completion of the TransEd modules, Family Medicine residents
completed a survey addressing knowledge and attitudes on transgender health. In addition, a focus
group with a experienced and trained facilitator conducted a small group guided session exploring
TransEd's effectiveness in meeting educational needs, perceived gaps in the modules and
effectiveness in increasing comfort level in addressing transgender healthcare needs.
Results
This abstract focuses on the qualitative analysis. A total of 6 Family Medicine residents participated
in the focus groups. General themes that emerged including appreciating videos of true narratives
that personalized the transgender journey and stories, a logical step wise approach to the modules,
the practical approach to management options and the link to resources. Overall participants felt
TransEd was a great foundation for transgender health knowledge and helped increase comfort
levels. Suggestions for improvement included having more case examples that would model how to
implement the guidelines in a practical manner and receiving ongoing training in these areas.
Another limitation identified was the ability to transfer this knowledge into real life situations and
the need to pair TransEd with clinical exposures and experiences.
Conclusion
TransEd is an online education program that is an effective way to deliver curriculum on
transgender health. Medical residents appreciated the practical approach that helped to increase
their comfort levels in providing transgender care. However, pairing this with clinical rotations and
experiences would further enhance the effectiveness of TransEd. Further research is needed to
study the affect of TransEd on behavioural change in medical professionals providing transgender
care.
Keyword 1
Transgender
Keyword 2
Curriculum
Keyword 3
On-Line
Level of Training
Post Graduate
Abstract Themes
Curriculum
Curriculum
Evaluation
Additional Theme (First choice)
Postgraduate
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Michael Lee-Poy
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
