Exploring the knowledge and attitudes of college-educated Hispanics toward the transgender community in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of a sample of Hispanics in Puerto Rico (PR) toward the transgender community. METHODS: A cross-sectional study addressing Hispanics, aged 21 years or older who lived in PR, was performed from March to September 2021. Participants were invited through online advertisement shared on social media pages. Data were collected via SurveyMonkey and analyzed with Stata 17. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize findings. RESULTS: A total of 404 participants were sampled. Most were female, 278 (68.8%), had completed at least a bachelor's degree, 292 (72.2%), and referred exposure to trans-related topics during education, 237 (58.7%). Most correctly defined the terms sex, 257 (63.6%), sexual orientation, 334 (82.7%) and transgenderism, 297 (73.5%). The majority also agreed that transgender individuals should be able to change their name, 353 (93.6%) and undergo gender-affirming procedures, 335 (88.9%). Most also believed trans individuals were a valuable part of society, 339 (89.9%) and should be allowed free gender expression, 358 (95.0%). CONCLUSIONS: PR is characterized by a patriarchal, religious, and conservative culture which could promote a negative attitude toward transgender people. Our findings challenged such assumption. The level of knowledge and positive attitude toward trans individuals identified in this study could counteract the existing violence and stigma affecting this community in PR.

Knowledge and Attitudes about Transgender Healthcare: Exploring the Perspectives of Hispanic Medical Students.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitudes about transgender care in Hispanic medical students at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (UPR SOM). METHODS: Medical students at the UPR SOM were invited to participate in a questionnaire to assess their attitudes and knowledge about the healthcare of transgender patients. The data were analyzed as percentages and averages using Stata version 14. RESULTS: A total of 141 medical students completed the survey. The majority of the students (52.5%) reported that they needed to learn more about transgender health issues. Most of the students (60.3%) were not familiar with the hormonal regimens used for gender reassignment and transition and were not knowledgeable about the requirements an individual must fulfil prior to undergoing gender-reassignment surgery. The Likert scale scores for how comfortable students felt about working with transgender patients and becoming known among peers as a doctor that cares for transgender patients were 4.0 (95% CI: 4.0-4.2) and 4.7 (95% CI: 4.6-4.8), respectively. Almost all the medical students (97.9%) thought that transgender patients deserved the same quality of care from medical institutions as heterosexual patients receive. Most of the medical students (87.3%) believed physicians are responsible for the treatment of transgender patients. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that even though UPR SOM medical students tend to be willing to treat transgender patients, there are limitations to their knowledge and training regarding this specific healthcare topic. Strategies to improve medical student knowledge about and training on these topics must be considered.