Authors (including presenting author) :
Lee TMA(1), Yue SYA(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Prince of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
Gender incongruence is characterized by a marked and persistent incongruence between an individual´s experienced gender and the anatomical sex. These individuals often desire gender role transition in order to experience life in preferred gender. They may receive hormonal treatment, sex reassignment surgery or other health care services. In Hong Kong, services for these individuals were centralized at Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) since 2016. As at November 2018, there are more than 300 patients receiving services at Gender Identity Disorder Clinic in PWH. Some of them have been referred for Occupational Therapy (OT) service. This article serves to report the scope of OT service at the clinic.
Objectives :
OT aims to facilitate development of skills and adjustment to the living in the preferred gender and life roles at different stages of life. OT serves to collaborate with patients in leading the meaningful life of their choice. OT also provides assistive devices for daily living if indicated.
Methodology :
Patients receive the following services at different stages during gender role transition as indicated. Self-care training is provided to enhance skills of expressing their gender through the ways they act and dress. Vocational training is provided to facilitate their gender role transition at work. Lifestyle redesign program aims to engage in active participation in self-care, work, leisure and social activities. Life skills training aims to enhance performance in daily living tasks, community living, problem solving skills, assertive and coping skills, effective communication skills and stress management. Psychosocial intervention is provided to facilitate management of mood and sleep problems and other comorbidity. Assistive devices, including chest binder and penile support, are prescribed for patients if indicated e.g. after sex reassignment surgery. At different stage of transition, assessment of quality of life is conducted in order to evaluate treatment outcome and enable patients living a meaningful life.
Result & Outcome :
As at December 2018, 35 patients were referred for OT services, in which 23 are male-to-female and 12 are female-to-male patients. Most patients were provided individual-based intervention. Group training was conducted for male-to-female patients to enhance skills on feminizing appearance and demeanor. Patient showed improved skills in expressing own gender identity. With improved self-esteem, patients showed increased motivation and self-efficacy in social re-integration. This helps to decrease self-discrimination and enhance independent living. Patients showed increased engagement in vocational, social and leisure activities. They also expressed improved quality of life. In future, service model will be developed to enhance delivery and improve quality of OT service for the patients.
Co-location with:
