Empath

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Empath:  Examining the experiences of Transgender patients and their healthcare professionals at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

• IRAS ID

  327106

• Contact name

  Julia Petty

• Contact email

  j.petty@herts.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Hertfordshire

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  This study will explore how being in hospital makes Trans* patients feels, and how caring for Trans* patients makes healthcare staff feel. Trans* is an umbrella term for people who do not call themselves “male” or “female” or whose gender identity is different from the one they were given at birth.
  Trans* patients often have emotionally painful experiences in hospitals. This can be because of stigma, ignorance, and healthcare systems (from computers to single sex wards) which are not designed for them. Healthcare professionals, like doctors, nurses, or physiotherapists, (HCPs) also find caring for Trans* patients difficult for the same reasons. Because of this, Trans* people often avoid or put off going to the doctor or the hospital when they are ill, making their illness worse.
  Exploring the feelings and emotions of both groups of participants, the study hopes to help develop some insight and understanding on both sides.
  Patients who identify as Trans* who have attended a hospital appointment at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) in the last eighteen months can join the study. HCPs who work at MKUH and who have cared for Trans* patients in the last eighteen months can join. The Trans* patient and their HCP will be matched up so that the same event is being discussed.
  The study participants will only come from MKUH, a mid-sized District General Hospital. Participants from all hospital departments will be eligible, including Child Health.
  Each participant will be interviewed separately. The interviews will focus of what was happening when experiences were good, so that we can learn what works best. They will not ignore bad experiences. Instead, they will help the participants to think of what kind of situation would have made the experience better. This is called Appreciative Inquiry. There will be no study-related follow-up.
  

• REC name

  London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/LO/0123

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 May 2025

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion