The impact of empowerment model-based education on quality of life of transgender people under hormone therapy: A randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: Gender identity disorder is a complex psychological problem and people with this disorder are at risk of many problems, including reduced quality of life. Empowerment intervention is one of the methods that can be used to improve the quality of life of people. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of empowerment model-based training on the quality of life of transgender people undergoing hormone therapy. METHODS: The present study is a randomized clinical trial that was conducted in 2012 on 81 transgender people at Tehran Welfare Center. The study samples were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group received training based on the empowerment model (threat perception, problem-solving, educational participation, and evaluation) and the control group received routine treatment. RESULTS: According to the findings, after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the mean level of overt anxiety (P = 0.045) and aspects of emotional health (P = 0.030), the general perception of health (P = 0.007), mental health (P = 0.008), and overall quality of life (P = 0.005). Also, although there was a statistically significant difference in the aspect emotional well-being in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P = 0.034), this difference was not significant between the two groups (P = 0.274). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the empowerment-based training program had a significant relationship with the improvement in aspects of emotional health, the overall perception of health, mental health, emotional well-being and overall quality of life.