Trans*forming learning: Including lived experience of transgender people into a healthcare training programme

Turner, Kevin

Abstract

Purpose:
Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in the UK are required to be safe, effective and evidence-based individuals capable of meeting the needs of people in their care. In developing this capacity, humanisation theory was used within an isolated training session to promote the health and wellbeing needs of transgender communities, who continue to report high levels of discrimination and dissatisfaction when accessing health care services.

Background:
Humanisation theory recognises the complexity of personal, social and psychological relationships between people, acknowledging that the subjective view of each individual is dependent upon their background and experience. Use of this theory helps to challenge the conception of patients beyond their diagnosis and defining characteristics enabling HCP’s to better understand individual experiences of health and how better to support them with it.

Methods:
A peer-led educational seminar about the diagnosis and management of Gender Identity Dysphoria (GID) was developed and co-delivered by members of the trans community who had experiences of accessing UK health care services. These 90-minute sessions were delivered within a university setting to trainee HCP’s. Delivery was formally evaluated through the use of anonymous feedback forms.

Outcomes or impact:
Humanisation theory enabled learners to become actively involved in the process of understanding transgendered individuals at personal, cultural and structural levels whilst providing a framework to formulate future care improvements. Incorporating lived-in experience within future teaching and training could help to further explore the unmet needs of service users and provide opportunities to encourage reflective practice amongst HCP’s.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Division of Health Psychology (DHP) 2022 Annual Conference
• Start Date: Jun 28, 2022
• End Date: Jun 29, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 28, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12087959