The Health Inequities of the Transgender Population in Accessing Health Care in the United States: An Evidence-Based Interview Study of the Individual Barriers of Achieving Equity in Transgender Service in Seattle, Washington

Abstract

Transgender individuals face challenges and hardships to overcome stigma and discrimination in seeking appropriate healthcare service, compared to their LGBTQ+ counterparts, in the United States. This study identifies the individual barriers in the Greater Seattle Region of Washington State by listening and observing to the transgender population in describing their experience in seeking healthcare, either non- or trans-related care. The original study was conducted by Kaizen Promotion Office at Virginia Mason Medical Center Hospital in Seattle, Washington that interviewed 14 participants (cis staff, transgender staff, patient-only). The interviews were transcribed, analyzed, and organized in an evidence-based data summary table to identify major themes and findings. The results showed the following six major themes: emotions, disrespect, insurance, education, care coordination, and mental health. These themes will be useful to evaluate the transgender service line of the metropolitan hospitals in Washington State to improve and eradicate barriers that are preventing the transgender population to seek appropriate healthcare for either non- and trans-related care. A limitation of this study was that all 14 participants, while seeking appropriate healthcare services, had subjective views.