Accepted Type
Oral
Code
OG3-1-1
Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Other
Presenter Other
Endocrinologist, researcher
Affiliation
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
Gender-affirming care for trans and non-binary youth: Lessons for Canadian medical education from Trans Youth CAN!
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
Referrals of trans youth for gender-affirming care have increased internationally. Trans Youth CAN! is a prospective 24-month cohort study of youth referred for puberty suppression/gender-affirming hormones, medical, social, and family outcomes.
Methods
Eligible participants were aged <16, new to puberty blockers/hormones, and enrolled at first appointment for gender-affirming medication, along with their parent/caregiver (P/C), from 10 Canadian gender clinics. Baseline sociodemographic, health, pathways to care, and family data were collected from interviewer-assisted youth surveys, self-completed P/C surveys, and medical records from 09/2017 to 06/2019.
Results
174 youth (75.8% trans males, 15.9% trans females, 8.3% non-binary), and 160 P/Cs (85.1% female, 96.1% birth/adoptive parents) were enrolled. Most common youth comorbid diagnoses were anxiety (40.2%) and depression (32.0%). Family doctors or pediatricians were first providers seen to discuss blockers or hormones by 58.9% of youth, and accounted for 68.8% of clinic referrals. Before coming to clinic, 41.0% of youth saw non-clinical community stakeholders (school counsellors, community groups) regarding their gender. On average, youth spent 13.5 months seeking hormone care, waited 8.7 months from referral to first medical appointment, and saw 2.7 different types of providers (maximum 8) before coming to clinic.
Conclusion
There is a need to expand healthcare capacity for trans youth in Canada, including hormone care and community support. Comprehensive education in gender-affirming care during training programs will empower primary care providers and pediatricians to ease distress of gender dysphoria, empower trans and non-binary youth, and support positive mental and physical health.
Keyword 1
gender-affirming medical care
Keyword 2
transgender youth
Keyword 3
positive youth development
Level of Training
CPD (faculty development, CME)
Abstract Themes
Leadership
Additional Theme (First choice)
Continuing Medical Education
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Arati Mokashi
Julie Temple Newhook
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
