The Impact of Education on the Perioperative Care of Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Patients on Anesthesia Trainees

As the number of individuals identifying as transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) rises, the amount of TGNB patients requiring surgery increases in tandem. However, there are gaps in proficiency for certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists which, compounded by a dearth of literature on TGNB-focused perioperative education, limit curricular implementation. Given the important need for improved perioperative care of TGNB patients, this study evaluates the impact of providing a 50-minute lecture to first-year resident registered nurse anesthetists (RRNAs) and second-year anesthesiology residents regarding their attitude, comfort, and perceived ability to care for TGNB patients. Participants completed prelecture and postlecture surveys, which were analyzed descriptively and using either chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests. Based on our results, improvements were identified in areas such as the participants' understanding of TGNB patients' feelings, comfort interacting with TGNB patients, comfort in addressing transphobia, and perceived ability to care for TGNB patients. These results highlight the positive impact of TGNB-focused education on RRNAs and anesthesiology residents and emphasizes the importance of integrating instruction into anesthesia curricula.