Sex and gender considerations in reporting guidelines for health research: a systematic review

Biology of Sex Differences

Amédé Gogovor¹  France Légaré¹  Hervé Tchala Vignon Zomahoun²  Lobna Khadhraoui²  Nathalie Rheault²  Giraud Ekanmian²  David Moher³  Alèxe Deom Tardif⁴  Évèhouénou Lionel Adisso⁴ 

[1] Quebec SPOR-SUPPORT Unit, Quebec City, QC, Canada;Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Shared Decision Making and Knowledge Translation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada;Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada;VITAM-Centre de Recherche en Santé Durable, Pavillon Landry-Poulin, 2525, Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 0A4, Quebec, QC, Canada;Quebec SPOR-SUPPORT Unit, Quebec City, QC, Canada;VITAM-Centre de Recherche en Santé Durable, Pavillon Landry-Poulin, 2525, Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 0A4, Quebec, QC, Canada;School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Centre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, PO Box 201B, General Campus, Centre for Practice Changing Research Building, 501 Smyth Road, K1H 8L6, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Shared Decision Making and Knowledge Translation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada;VITAM-Centre de Recherche en Santé Durable, Pavillon Landry-Poulin, 2525, Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 0A4, Quebec, QC, Canada;

关键词: Reporting guideline;    Sex;    Gender;    Quality of reporting;    Systematic review;    Health research;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13293-021-00404-0

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDespite growing recognition of the importance of sex and gender considerations in health research, they are rarely integrated into research design and reporting. We sought to assess the integration of sex, as a biological attribute, and gender, as a socially constructed identity, in published reporting guidelines.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of published reporting guidelines listed on the EQUATOR website (www.equator-nework.org) from inception until December 2018. We selected all reporting guidelines (original and extensions) listed in the EQUATOR library. We used EndNote Citation Software to build a database of the statements of each guideline identified as a "full bibliographic reference" and retrieved the full texts. Reviewers independently extracted the data on use of sex and gender terms from the checklist/abstract/main text of guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis.ResultsA total of 407 reporting guidelines were included; they were published between 1995 and 2018. Of the 407 guidelines, 235 (57.7%) mentioned at least one of the sex- and gender-related words. In the checklist of the reporting guidelines (n = 363), “sex” and “gender” were mentioned in 50 (13.8%) and 40 (11%), respectively. Only one reporting guideline met our criteria (nonbinary, appropriate categorization, and non-interchangeability) for correct use of sex and gender concepts. Trends in the use of "sex" and "gender" in the checklists showed that the use of “sex” only started in 2003, while “gender” has been in use since 1996.ConclusionsWe assessed the integration of sex and genderin reporting guidelines based on the use of sex- and gender-related words. Our findings showed a low use and integration of sex and gender concepts and their incorrect use. Authors of reporting guidelines should reduce this gap for a better use of research knowledge.Trial registration PROSPERO no. CRD42019136491.

【 授权许可】

CC BY