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Review
. 2016 Apr;23(2):198-207.
doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000229.

Advancing methods for US transgender health research

Sari L Reisner  1 , Madeline B Deutsch, Shalender Bhasin, Walter Bockting, George R Brown, Jamie Feldman, Rob Garofalo, Baudewijntje Kreukels, Asa Radix, Joshua D Safer, Vin Tangpricha, Guy TʼSjoen, Michael Goodman
Affiliations
Review

Advancing methods for US transgender health research

Sari L Reisner et al. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This article describes methodological challenges, gaps, and opportunities in US transgender health research.

Recent findings: Lack of large prospective observational studies and intervention trials, limited data on risks and benefits of sex affirmation (e.g., hormones and surgical interventions), and inconsistent use of definitions across studies hinder evidence-based care for transgender people. Systematic high-quality observational and intervention-testing studies may be carried out using several approaches, including general population-based, health systems-based, clinic-based, venue-based, and hybrid designs. Each of these approaches has its strength and limitations; however, harmonization of research efforts is needed. Ongoing development of evidence-based clinical recommendations will benefit from a series of observational and intervention studies aimed at identification, recruitment, and follow-up of transgender people of different ages, from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and with diverse gender identities.

Summary: Transgender health research faces challenges that include standardization of lexicon, agreed upon population definitions, study design, sampling, measurement, outcome ascertainment, and sample size. Application of existing and new methods is needed to fill existing gaps, increase the scientific rigor and reach of transgender health research, and inform evidence-based prevention and care for this underserved population.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of health outcomes in U.S. Transgender Research, 2008–2014.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A flow diagram depicting data collection and design of a mixed retrospective/prospective health systems-based study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A concept of a multisite U.S. national transgender cohort study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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