Challenges with providing gender-sensitive care: exploring experiences within pediatric rehabilitation hospital

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived challenges with providing a gender-sensitive care approach among pediatric rehabilitation care providers.

Using a qualitative needs assessment design and a purposive sampling strategy, we recruited clinicians from a Canadian pediatric rehabilitation hospital. We conducted interviews with 23 pediatric rehabilitation healthcare providers (19 women, 3 men, 1 transgender man) from a range of disciplines. Three coders performed a thematic analysis of the transcripts.

Our analysis revealed the following themes regarding the perceived challenges in providing a gender-sensitive care approach: (1) a lack of training and experience; (2) gender differences and stereotypes; (3) binary documentation and potential for misgendering; (4) the complexity of gender identity; and (5) the gender of the clinician.

Pediatric rehabilitation care providers face many challenges in offering a gender-sensitive care approach and need further training and systemic support.Implications for rehabilitationAwareness of the challenges in providing gender-sensitive care could be an important first step in helping to address inequities.Systemic and interpersonal barriers may impede the provision of gender-sensitive care among rehabilitation providers.Clinicians need more training and support in how to provide gender-sensitive care.