[Medicine and gender : which challenges for clinical practice ?]

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Medical Education
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Biological sex and social gender are critical determinants of health.
• Disparities in healthcare between men and women can arise from overlooking these differences or relying on stereotypes.
• Biased medical care can result from a lack of understanding of sex and gender influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the impact of sex and gender on various aspects of medical care, including diagnosis, investigations, treatments, and prognosis.
• To provide practical tools for healthcare professionals to address sex and gender differences.
• To introduce an educational project focused on integrating gender into medical curricula.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of clinical situations demonstrating sex and gender influences in healthcare.
• Development of educational strategies for medical students.
• Review of existing literature on sex and gender in medicine.

Main Results:

• Clinical examples highlight how sex and gender affect patient care across the diagnostic and therapeutic continuum.
• The proposed educational project aims to equip future physicians with the knowledge to provide gender-sensitive care.
• Integration of gender as a key dimension in medical education is crucial for equitable healthcare.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing and addressing sex and gender specificities in medicine is essential for improving health equity.
• Integrating gender into medical education is a vital step towards ensuring unbiased and high-quality care for both women and men.
• Evidence-based understanding of sex and gender differences promotes equitable healthcare outcomes.