Evaluation of an Interprofessional Gender Diversity Awareness Workshop for Healthcare Students

Introduction:
Trans and gender diverse people experience significant health disparities, which is compounded by stigmatisation and ignorance when seeking healthcare. While exposure to the topic of gender diversity is linked to increased knowledge and confidence of healthcare students when caring for trans patients, occupational therapy students in Northern Ireland do not receive education on gender diversity. Interprofessional education is a key element of high-quality care provision, with noted benefits for healthcare students.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of an interprofessional gender diversity awareness workshop on occupational therapy and mental health nursing students attitudes and beliefs towards transgender people and interprofessional socialisation.
Methods:
Delivery of the interprofessional workshop includes a presentation on terminology and health inequities, a co-produced case study and facilitated discussions on affirmative care. Online surveys are distributed prior to and upon completion of the interprofessional activity with recruitment commencing in October 2024 and resuming in October 2025. Students’ attitudes and beliefs towards trans people is assessed using the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and interprofessional socialisation is assessed using the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (9A and 9B). Ulster University Ethics committee reviewed and awarded approval (FCNUR-24-089-A).
Results:
To date 32 participants have completed the pre-survey comprising 12 occupational therapy students and 20 mental health nursing students, participants were predominantly women (n=29), and 10 participants have completed the post-survey. Preliminary results indicate improvements in student attitudes and beliefs towards trans people (mean difference=9.50, SD=25.46) and interprofessional socialisation (mean difference=0.57, SD=1).
Conclusion:
Findings suggest an interprofessional workshop improves student attitudes and beliefs towards trans people and interprofessional socialisation, developing students cultural humility and interprofessional identity.