A pilot feasibility and acceptability evaluation of Trans Care: A CBPR digital health intervention for transgender and nonbinary adults experiencing gender dysphoria.

BACKGROUND: Despite gender dysphoria's well-documented negative consequences, no empirically tested psychological interventions have been developed specifically to target gender dysphoria. To address this gap, we developed Trans Care, a free, self-guided digital intervention aimed at increasing coping skills to reduce gender dysphoria-related distress. Using community-based participatory research methods, we co-developed the intervention with TNB community input to ensure relevance and accessibility to diverse TNB populations.

AIMS: This study tests the feasibility and acceptability of the pilot trial for Trans Care with a predominantly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color sample.

METHODS: Participants were recruited via online forums and social media and a total of 87 participants completed at least one module. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through attrition, validated and trial-specific quantitative measures, and qualitative questions.

RESULTS: Participants reported the intervention was feasible and acceptable through both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Specifically, participants noted their gratitude for the intervention and indicated their excitement to inform other TNB community members of the intervention. Attrition (38.32%) was slightly higher than hypothesized (<33%); however, attrition was lower than in previous online interventions with TNB populations.

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that Trans Care is feasible and acceptable as an intervention, which warrants further investigation via randomized controlled trials. At a time when transgender and non-binary people are experiencing less access to health care for gender dysphoria in the US, this intervention has the potential to assist with reducing distress.