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Created on : 09.09.2026 Last modified : 09.09.2026

Trans and Nonbinary Individuals’ Experiences & Challenges with Sex and Gender Identity Documentation in Healthcare Settings in Switzerland
Experiences & challenges of TNB individuals with sex/gender documentation in healthcare

Switzerland, 2025
DESS

Reference ID

10.16909-dataset-71

DOI

Producer(s)

Chantal Arditi

Collections

Department of epidemiology and health systems (DESS)

Metadata

Identification

Survey ID number

10.16909-dataset-71
Title

Trans and Nonbinary Individuals’ Experiences & Challenges with Sex and Gender Identity Documentation in Healthcare Settings in Switzerland
Subtitle

Experiences & challenges of TNB individuals with sex/gender documentation in healthcare
Abbreviation or Acronym

GENDER-REACH_TNB_Survey
Country
Name Country code
Switzerland CHE
Study type

Other Household Survey [hh/oth]
Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the experiences of trans and nonbinary (TNB) individuals regarding the documentation and communication of sex and gender identity in healthcare settings in Switzerland.
Data were collected through an online survey assessing structural factors (documentation accuracy, form inclusivity, ease of change, provider knowledge), interpersonal factors (respectful communication, perceived rejection, breach of confidentiality, medical harm), individual factors (disclosure safety, disclosure of gender identity, negative expectations, non-disclosure behavior), and healthcare avoidance.
Recruitment was conducted through professional medical organizations (n = 11), LGBTIQ+ community organizations (n = 22), a targeted Instagram campaign led by Unisanté and Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS), and snowball sampling. Data collection took place from July 10 to September 4, 2025.
The dataset includes responses from 156 participants.
Kind of Data

Sample survey data [ssd]
Unit of Analysis

individuals

Version

Version Description

version 2.1: Edited, anonymous dataset for public distribution.
Version Date

2026-08-27

Scope

Notes
  1. Screening and transition information: The first section collected data on participants’ sex/gender identity and their transition status.
  2. Healthcare use and setting-specific experiences: Participants were asked to report their use of care within the last 12 months in five healthcare settings: 1) primary care, 2) specialized care (e.g., endocrinologist, gynecologist, urologist), 3) emergency care, 4) inpatient care, 5) mental health care (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist). They were then instructed to select maximum two settings in which they had experiences within the last 12 months. For each of these settings, they were asked to detail their experiences.
  3. General experiences in healthcare: Following the setting-specific questions, the survey shifted to general questions about experiences. This included questions about delaying or avoiding needed healthcare, reasons for delaying care, and instances of medical harm in the last 12 months, as well as two free-text questions about positive and negative experiences
  4. Preferences and suggestions: the next section asked participants about their preferences for the collection of and access to sex/gender information, and what would make healthcare more inclusive.
  5. Gender-Minority Stress and Resilience (GMSR) and other measures: this section included three scales from the GMSR measures (negative expectations, internalized transphobia, non-disclosure behavior) as well as a question on passing, a scale on perceived social support, and the Brief COPE scale on coping strategies.
  6. Demographics and health: The final section of the survey collected demographic information and subjective health data.

Coverage

Geographic Coverage

National
Universe

The target population included individuals who identify as trans and/or non-binary individuals, as well as intersex individuals who often face similar structural and interpersonal challenges in healthcare, who were 14 years old and older.

Producers and sponsors

Primary investigators
Name Affiliation
Chantal Arditi Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Producers
Name Affiliation Role
Sylvan Berrut Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Researcher
Laura D Perler Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Researcher
Delphine Courvoisier Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva Co-PI
Funding Agency/Sponsor
Name Abbreviation
Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF

Sampling

Sampling Procedure

Recruitment was facilitated through a collaborative effort involving 11 professional medical organizations and 22 LGBTIQ+ community organizations. Additionally, a targeted social media campaign was carried out on Instagram, spearheaded by Unisanté in partnership with Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS), the national trans community organization. Further recruitment occurred through snowball sampling.

Survey instrument

Questionnaires

The instrument was available in three languages (English, German, and French).
The estimated time for completion was between 20 to 35 minutes.
The questionnaire included 6 sections:

  1. Screening and transition information: The first section collected data on participants’ sex/gender identity and their transition status.
  2. Healthcare use and setting-specific experiences: Participants were asked to report their use of care within the last 12 months in five healthcare settings: 1) primary care, 2) specialized care (e.g., endocrinologist, gynecologist, urologist), 3) emergency care, 4) inpatient care, 5) mental health care (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist). They were then instructed to select maximum two settings in which they had experiences within the last 12 months. For each of these settings, they were asked to detail their experiences.
  3. General experiences in healthcare: Following the setting-specific questions, the survey shifted to general questions about experiences. This included questions about delaying or avoiding needed healthcare, reasons for delaying care, and instances of medical harm in the last 12 months, as well as two free-text questions about positive and negative experiences
  4. Preferences and suggestions: the next section asked participants about their preferences for the collection of and access to sex/gender information, and what would make healthcare more inclusive.
  5. Gender-Minority Stress and Resilience (GMSR) and other measures: this section included three scales from the GMSR measures (negative expectations, internalized transphobia, non-disclosure behavior) as well as a question on passing, a scale on perceived social support, and the Brief COPE scale on coping strategies.
  6. Demographics and health: The final section of the survey collected demographic information and subjective health data.

Data collection

Dates of Data Collection
Start End
2025/07/10 2025/09/04
Mode of data collection
  • Internet [int]
Data Collectors
Name Abbreviation
REDCap REDCap

Data Access

Access authority
Name Affiliation URL Email
Documentation and data unit (UDD) Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland https://www.unisante.ch/fr/formation-recherche/bibliotheque udd.data@unisante.ch
Confidentiality
Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required?
yes
Access conditions

Licensed datasets, accessible under conditions and following review.
Citation requirements

Arditi C, Berrut S, Perler L D, Courvoisier D. Trans and Nonbinary Individuals’ Experiences & Challenges with Sex and Gender Identity Documentation in Healthcare Settings in Switzerland. Unisanté, Center for Primary Care and Public Health & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Version 2.1: Edited, anonymous dataset for public distribution. (08/2026), provided by the Unisanté Research Data Repository. DOI:10.16909/DATASET/71

Disclaimer and copyrights

Copyright

(c) 2026, Unisanté, Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland

Contacts

Contacts
Name Affiliation Email
GENDER-REACH Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health & University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland gender-reach@unisante.ch

Metadata production

DDI Document ID

10.16909-dataset-71
Study description in PDF

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