Barriers to Healthcare for Transgender Individuals

Abstract

Background:Transgender (TG) clients experience provider bias, erasure, refusal to treat, and violence.Objective:The purpose of this article is to identify barriers to healthcare for TG individuals and discuss recommendations for providers treating this population.Methods:Literature review of prime research was conducted using the Whittemore and Knafl methodology (2005).Results:Evidence suggests that barriers to TG healthcare include lack of provider TG knowledge and trans sensitivity, lack of provider communication, and lack of emotional and physical safe healthcare environments.Conclusions:TG clients face barriers to accessing healthcare, and specific recommendations to improve provider practice will decrease these barriers.Implications for Practice:Lack of provider education affects TG individuals accessing quality healthcare. Recommendations to improve provider practice are essential to improve care.