Engaging Transgender Patients: Using Social Media to Inform Medical Practice and Research in Transgender Health

Despite accelerated growth in the field of transgender health, mistrust between trans patients and their providers persists. Insufficient education for providers, research that overlooks patients' foremost concerns, and continued stigma and discrimination in medical settings are among the main barriers leading trans patients to delay or avoid care. Consequently, the transgender community often turns to social media as a self-serve resource for medical knowledge. This article discusses the benefits of directly engaging the trans community using social media to educate professionals, drive relevant research, and inform practice, to ultimately deliver higher quality care.