The attitude of medical undergraduate students from North India toward transgender and change thereafter by educational intervention.

ABSTRACT

Background: There is a widespread gap among medical professionals about transgender, and it needs to be addressed through proper educational intervention to inculcate positive attitudes toward transgender people. Aim: This study aimed to assess the attitude of medical undergraduate students toward transgender and change thereafter by educational intervention. Materials and Methods: A total of 169 final-year undergraduate students (aged 22-25 years; 50.3% males; all having heterosexual orientation) were assessed for their attitudes toward transgender people using the Genderism and Transphobia Scale (GTS) and Attitude toward Transgender Individuals Scale (ATTIS). Subsequently, an educational intervention was conducted. The attitude scores were again evaluated immediately and after one month of post-intervention. A paired t-test, independent-samples t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the data. Results: Mean ATTIS and GTS scores before intervention were 67.02 ± 9.20 and 80.84 ± 26.07, respectively. After the educational intervention, these scores were 79.27 ± 7.18 and 63.20 ± 12.11, respectively, thus showing a significant change in both scores. The change in GTS score was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.001) and in urban than in rural residents (P = 0.017). No significant association of demographic factors was observed concerning the change in ATTIS scores. On evaluating the recall value, no significant decline in GTS or ATTIS scores was observed following a one month of interval. Conclusion: There is a need to positively reinforce these changes brought about by educational intervention in the attitude of undergraduate medical students toward transgender people. Such cognitive gains are achievable in developing a humanistic society.