Health Care Satisfaction in Relation to Gender Identity: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 20 States (2014-2018)

Med Care. 2021 Apr 1;59(4):312-318. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001508.

Abstract

Background: Health care satisfaction is a key component of patient-centered care. Prior research on transgender populations has been based on convenience samples, and/or grouped all gender minorities into a single category.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify differences in health care satisfaction among transgender men, transgender women, gender nonconforming, and cisgender adults in a diverse multistate sample.

Research design: Cross-sectional analysis of 2014-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 20 states, using multivariable logistic models.

Subjects: We identified 167,468 transgender men, transgender women, gender-nonconforming people, cisgender women, and cisgender men and compared past year health care satisfaction across these groups.

Results: Transgender men and women had the highest prevalence of being "not at all satisfied" with the health care they received (14.6% and 8.6%, respectively), and gender-nonconforming people had the lowest prevalence of being "very satisfied" with their health care (55.7%). After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, transgender men were more likely to report being "not at all satisfied" with health care than cisgender men (odds ratio: 4.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.72-11.5) and cisgender women (odds ratio: 3.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-8.80).

Conclusions: Findings indicate that transgender and gender-nonconforming adults report considerably less health care satisfaction relative to their cisgender peers. Interventions to address factors driving these differences are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities / psychology
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities / statistics & numerical data*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Transgender Persons / psychology
  • Transgender Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult