Rural Transgender Health: Primary Care experiences
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Rural Transgender Health: A mixed methods exploratory study of barriers and facilitators to GP-delivered primary care in remote and rural Scotland.
IRAS ID
358445
Contact name
Oliver Wain
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Highland
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
This project aims to explore the experiences of the transgender and non-binary populations barriers and facilitators to primary care in the remote and rural Highlands and Argyll and Bute. Trans people in Scotland experience a range of barriers and facilitators to primary care and experience health inequalities (Valentine and Oulds, 2024 and Saunders et al, 2023). There is limited evidence on transgender experiences of rural primary care in remote and rural Scotland, in particular synthesized with experiences of GPs. This project aims to address this gap to identify service provision and educational needs and generate themes for future exploration.
This project also seeks to explore barriers and facilitators experienced by GPs in providing healthcare to trans and non-binary people. Remote and rural clinicians face unique challenges to providing care, as demonstrated by concerns regarding the 2018 GP contract. Remote and rural areas of Scotland have the highest GP to patient ratios in the country, and there remains conflicting views about the role of primary care in trans healthcare provision (Crowley et al, 2021).
To explore these intersecting themes around rurality and caring for trans people, this mixed methods study will combine qualitative and quantitative data to understand what helps and hinders trans people’s health and primary care provision. Methods will include separate surveys for the trans community and the GP community, and semi-structured peer-led interviews with trans participants. The project is anticipated to take 6 months to report publication.Expected outputs from the study may include a report with practical recommendations for GP practices and educational resources for National Education for Scotland, and peer-reviewed academic publication. Findings will be shared with key stakeholders, trans and GP communities, and Scottish Government to support inclusive and effective primary care for rural transgender people.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1248
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion