Elizabeth Eaman, MD - Cancer Screening and Preventive Care for Transgender Individuals: Patient and Provider Perspectives on Best Practices and Special Considerations

PeerView Infectious Diseases CME/CNE/CPE Audio Podcast

Go online to PeerView.com/YDT860 to view the activity, download slides and practice aids, and complete the post-test to earn credit. It is estimated that there are about 1 million adults in the United States who identify as transgender, and this number may be higher depending on the surveys used, the questions asked, and the diversity of subcultures within the transgender community. Although being transgender is not in itself a medical condition, transgender individuals have unique healthcare needs and face barriers to screening and preventive care, particularly with cancer screening. Consequently, these patients may receive lower quality medical care than the general population as a result of stigma, discrimination, and providers’ lack of knowledge about gender identity. Additionally, transgender patients may only seek medical care as part of gender affirmation and avoid primary care health concerns, including screenings. This activity, based on a recent live web broadcast, will focus on improving cancer prevention and early detection strategies in the transgender community, as well as enhancing the knowledge and competence of interdisciplinary and interprofessional healthcare providers to appropriately deliver culturally competent care. An interdisciplinary panel of recognized clinical experts will offer learners tactics to improve disease prevention in transgender patients, while the patient advocate will provide the transgender patient perspective throughout the program. Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to: Recognize that transgender individuals may be disproportionately at increased risk for contracting HIV and those living with HIV have an increased risk of several types of cancers, Properly screen for and identify cancer in a timely manner to prevent advanced disease in the transgender community, Develop individualized preventive care plans for transgender patients consistent with the patient's current anatomical structure, Provide affirming, inclusive, and culturally humble care to transgender patients to facilitate adherence to clinical recommendations and engagement in care.