TransHealthGUIDE: Transforming Health for Gender-Diverse Youth Using Interventions to Drive Equity

Boston Children'S Hospital, Boston MA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Project Summary Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth (ages 13-24), with gender identities differing from their sex assigned at birth, are a growing NIH-designated health disparities population. TGD youth suffer much higher rates of suicide than their cisgender counterparts; over half contemplate suicide in their lifetime. These and other health disparities are compounded for TGD youth who are Black or Hispanic and experience both gender- and race-based stigma and minority stress. Black adolescents are also at an increased risk of suicide; attempts increased 73% from 1991 to 2017. Interventions are needed urgently to improve the mental health of TGD youth, particularly TGD youth who are also racial minorities. We propose a transformative, multi-level intervention to advance equity and reduce health disparities for TGD youth through (1) systemic changes that increase access to gender-affirming care and (2) individual, interpersonal, and community-based changes that increase knowledge and caregiver support, thereby reducing suicidality and improving mental health. Access to gender-affirming care and family support are known to be critical determinants of mental health outcomes for TGD youth, yet no large-scale interventions exist to address these remediable structural and social determinants of health. We focus on five Southeastern states with large Black transgender populations and limited access to gender-affirming care. Our intervention has two components. The first is a provider-training and support program to expand the local workforce of gender-affirming care providers. This entails a free online training course for continuing education credit and a provider network and pathway for remote synchronous and asynchronous consultations with specialists at centers of excellence. The second is an interactive educational digital platform for TGD youth and caregivers. This provides expert- generated knowledge via educational simulations that are tailored to users' needs identified at the time of intake. Interactive features will promote communication between youth and caregivers and improve access to providers and community resources. We will use a Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to optimize the platform for testing in a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial with an Immediate Arm (upfront access) and Deferred Arm (access at 6 months). The intervention period for each Arm will last 6 months, followed by an observation period of up to 12 months with continued access. Using validated subscales, we will assess changes in the proportion of individuals reporting suicidal ideation in the prior three months (primary outcome) and in psychological distress and anxiety, caregiver support, and health care empowerment (secondary outcomes), as well as dose effects, heterogeneity of treatment effects across groups, and within- group resilience factors. This innovative, multi-level intervention fulfills a significant unmet need for near-term and sustainable solutions to the health disparities faced by TGD youth and addresses intersecting forms of stigma and inequity to transform mental health outcomes for a highly vulnerable, at-risk youth population.