U of MN Medical School launches study of on-line of trans interactive health promotion program

This is a guest post from Chris J. Hoefer, project coordinator at All Gender Health Online.

The Program in Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota Medical School recently opened recruitment for All Gender Health. This main trial launch is the culmination of a multi-year project funded by the National Institutes for Health to look at the health and well being of transgender people and their partners. One of the first projects to look at the community as a whole, surveying people across the gender spectrum, All Gender Health will be enrolling participants through mid-April 2012.

Previous phases of the All Gender Health project involved qualitative and quantitative data gathered from the male partners of trans people, which informed the development of the current and final phase. This final phase is the evaluation of a website comprised of 26 different modules designed by community members across the country. Designed to meet users where they are, allgenderhealth.org allows each participant to identify goals around topics such as resilience, community, transitioning, dating and sexual health negotiation. Users then craft a plan toward those objectives in a simple, individualized way.

Each participant who meets the study criteria and completes the first survey is randomly placed into either a test or control group. All users will be asked to complete three additional surveys, being compensated for each. Those who are randomized into the test group will also be asked to interact with the activities on the site. All participants can earn either $130 or $180 depending upon which group they have been randomly assigned.

The research team behind All Gender Health would appreciate the dissemination of this notice to all of our community partners:

Members of the transgender community are being invited to participate in the evaluation of an interactive website meant to promote the health of trans people and their partners. Participants can earn up to $180.00 by completing surveys and online activities on topics ranging from identity and community to intimacy and resilience.

Are you:

• 18 or older
• A transgender man or woman

Who:

• Has had unsafe sex with a non-trans man within the last 3 months
• Lives in the United States

If so, you’re invited to log onto www.allgenderhealth.org to see if you qualify to participate in the study.

This study is conducted by a team of researchers from the Program in Human Sexuality, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School with the support of a national, community Advisory Board.