HEIRES questionnaire: ensuring equality in health research

Objective

The inadequate collection, analysis, presentation and dissemination of sex and/or gender disaggregated data leads to persistent gender bias in biomedical research, clinical trials, publications and health information systems which have a negative impact on medical practice. In addition, gender gap persists in many scientific institutions and among researchers, despite various initiatives to promote equality among all professionals involved in research teams. The aim of this study is to create a tool to assess the inclusion of a gender perspective in biomedical research.

Method

Relevant scientific publications on gender inclusion and biomedical studies indexed in the Web of Science were analysed, and guidelines and recommendations developed by leading governmental institutions, funding agencies and academic organisations were also reviewed. A panel of experts then used the Delphi method to identify useful variables for designing a questionnaire on gender inclusion in health sciences research.

Results

For the first time, the questionnaire HEIRES assesses the integration of a gender perspective in a transversal way at all stages of biomedical research, from team composition to study development and dissemination. The final result is an immediate and objective score that allows professionals, institutions and policy-makers to identify strengths and potential areas for improvement in the integration of gender perspective in their research and/or within their organisations.

Conclusions

Identifying gaps in the biomedical research process improves the quality of research centres, teams and studies and bring them closer to a fairer, more inclusive and equitable scenario towards personalised health.