Experiences of Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence in a Sample of Italian Transsexuals Who Have Undergone Sex-Reassignment Surgery

Transgender people in the nursing discourse: An integrative review

OBJECTIVE

To integrate and analyse the literature produced by nurses in terms of care, education and understanding of the reality of transgender (trans) people.

DESIGN

An integrative review methodology guided by the framework proposed by Whittemore and Knafl.

DATA SOURCES

The search strategy was applied in the following databases: Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL, as well as in Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde, during February and March 2021, with no time frame.

REVIEW METHODS

The references found were assessed according to the eligibility criteria established. The information of the articles included was extracted, and a thematic analysis was performed to synthesize the review findings.

RESULTS

The searches in the databases yielded 2859 articles; 985 after removing duplicates, and 33 articles were included in this review. Three major themes were identified: (1) Understanding the trans universe through the trans perspective; (2) Understanding health and nursing care for trans people; and (3) Trans women as the focus of health and nursing care. The themes evidenced in the lens of nurses and clients the importance of nursing training at all levels to prepare professionals on how to provide culturally competent nursing care for this population and reduce healthcare inequities.

CONCLUSION

Nurses must work to provide a space for convergence and enhancement of the rights of trans people and cease to be a verticalized care model. To such end, it is necessary to devise places and possibilities to teach and learn, to construct and reconstruct a culturally competent nursing care.

IMPACT

This review highlighted the current knowledge and identified gaps in the understanding of nurses, health professionals and students about the experience lived by trans people, resulting from the lack of training and continuing education of these professionals.

Social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners: A meta-synthesis

RATIONALE

Social relationships are important in bolstering health and well-being for everyone in the general population. For transgender people, strong supportive social relationships may be paramount to their overall health and well-being due to their marginalised status in society.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to investigate what is currently known about the social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners (e.g., family members, romantic partners).

METHODS

Thirty-nine qualitative papers were extracted from Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed that related to social relationships of transgender people. These papers were analysed via a qualitative meta-synthesis.

RESULTS

Forty-nine second-order themes were identified, initially organised into relational partner clusters (e.g., family, friends, work colleagues) for specific phenomena, then these were synthesized into five overarching conceptual themes: (1) Development of relationships through transition and beyond, (2) Coping strategies of transgender people and their relational partners, (3) Reciprocal support in social relationships, (4) Stigma enacted and ameliorated interpersonally, and (5) Influence of stigma on social health and well-being.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These overarching themes show the potential characteristics that assist in the health-buffering role of social relationships for transgender people and their relational partners. Of particular note, stigma was reported as a common negative experience by transgender people and their relational partners, and open communicative social relationships had positive effects on self-conceptualisations of identity, which were inferred to protect against the damaging effects of stigma. We discuss the various implications and applications of this meta-synthesis to future research and clinical settings as well as how it can inform healthcare policy to support transgender people.

Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Italy: A Qualitative Study on Specialized Centers' Model of Care and Network

In recent years, Italy, similar to many other countries, has witnessed an increase in children and adolescents presenting gender incongruence. This trend has led to the development and implementation of specialized centers providing care and support for these youths and their families. The present study aimed at investigating the functioning of agencies specialized in working with transgender and gender non-conforming youths in the Italian territory. Professionals in these agencies were interviewed about their perspectives on their agency's functioning, networks with other services, and work with trans* youths and their families. A semi-structured interview was developed and administered to professionals in specialized centers and associations dedicated to trans * youths, and deductive thematic analysis was applied to the transcripts. Eight professionals were interviewed: six working in specialized centers and two working in associations. The qualitative analyses of transcripts revealed four main themes, pertaining to service referrals, assessment protocols and intervention models, psychological support for youths and families, and agency shortcomings. The study explored the functioning of Italian agencies specialized in caring for transgender and gender non-conforming youths, from the perspective of professionals working in these agencies. While several positive aspects of the work emerged, the study highlighted a lack of uniformity across the Italian territory and the need for better networks between agencies and other medical professionals.

Improving the care management of trans patients: Focus groups of nursing students' perceptions

AIM

To know the perspectives of nursing students in trans patients' care and their access to health services and how to improve the quality of care in trans patients, related to the barriers identified by nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and plus (LGBTQ+) find barriers related to the health care access, including stigma, discrimination and lack of education. In addition, to the transphobia reported in some health care providers.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative study was performed through 12 focus group interviews in nursing students. Data analysis was based on content analysis.

RESULTS

124 first-year nursing students participated. The qualitative analysis resulted in three major themes: (a) Exposing an invisible reality, (b) Interprofessional communication: a starting point to arise awareness and (c) Care with pride as a link between individuality and professionalism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that both LGBTQ+ content and institutional resources are the cornerstone for nursing students and professionals' practice in order to develop and provide a well-informed and high-quality care delivery to these patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Policymakers, senior charge nurses and other managers should be aware of the structural-level changes identified and ongoing mentoring needed to guarantee trans patients' privacy and safety.

Personality Disorders and Personality Profiles in a Sample of Transgender Individuals Requesting Gender-Affirming Treatments

The study aims to explore the personality patterns of a group of transgender individuals who accessed an Italian gender clinic to undergo gender affirming treatments, by evaluating both dimensional personality domains proposed by the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders and categorical DSM-IV personality disorder (PD) diagnoses. Eighty-seven participants (40 transgender women and 47 transgender men) completed the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II personality disorders. Scores obtained were compared to those of the normative samples of cisgender women and men. Results indicated that transgender women scored lower than cisgender women on two main domains (Negative Affectivity and Psychoticism) and on seven facets. As for transgender men, lower scores than cisgender men were found on Antagonism and on five facets. Transgender men scored higher than cisgender men on Depressivity. Nearly 50% of participants showed at least one PD diagnosis, with no gender differences in prevalence. Borderline PD was the most frequent diagnosis in the overall sample. Self-report measures provide a less maladaptive profile of personality functioning than the clinician-based categorical assessment. Results are interpreted in the light of the Minority Stress Model and support the need for a multi-method assessment of personality in medicalized transgender people.