Exploring ‘life-cycle’ healthcare transitions with Canadians experiencing intersex variations

The project takes a multi-phase approach in exploring how we can develop timely, effective, evidence-informed quality life-cycle transitions for Canadians with intersex variations. The project establishes research capacity networks to analyze existing knowledge and evidence, embed, share and grow team skills, and design a pilot survey. By engaging stakeholders via a range of recruitment activities from across two provinces - British Columbia (BC) and Ontario (ON) we aim to better understand how individuals with intersex variations access Canadian healthcare services and the different access opportunities for individuals within urban and rural contexts. By establishing a reference group(s) to be involved across the study we will focus on understanding what is working well in the support group community for individuals with intersex as well as healthcare providers. By accessing and reviewing current Canadian clinical practice transition approaches/ models focused on transitions for individuals with intersex we aim to determine what individuals, healthcare providers, and wider health service strategies in BC and ON determine as ‘good’ transition outcomes, how and why. We will then compare and contrast these approaches to those outlined by Accord Alliance and Intersex Affirming Hospital Policies. The project will take a community-driven, participatory, action-orientated approach to these tasks. Our approach recognizes and foregrounds community values, community members' rich knowledge base and expertise, their practical and experiential situation.