Colloquia

Summary

Does health research truly consider sex and gender differences in study design? According to an international, interdisciplinary group of researchers, the answer is often no. While funding bodies like ZonMw require applicants to evaluate sex, gender, and diversity in their research proposals, many struggle to implement these considerations effectively. Existing resources, such as guidelines and toolkits, provide structured information but may not fully address the specific barriers faced by researchers unfamiliar with these topics or with limited awareness of their relevance.

To bridge this gap, a research team was awarded funding through the 2023 Erasmus Summer Programme to develop a conversation tool in the form of a card deck. This tool was designed to help health researchers integrate sex and gender considerations into their research proposals by facilitating discussions and raising awareness among research teams and reviewers.

The project took a human-centered design approach, engaging academic experts and interdisciplinary consultants through an iterative development process. Following the Double Diamond framework, each stage, from research and problem definition to prototyping and testing, was shaped through collaboration with the target audience.

The result was a physical card deck that integrated playful elements and guided prompts to foster discussions, increase awareness, and create a cross-disciplinary understanding of sex and gender considerations within health research consortiums. Through workshops with academic experts, the card deck was tested and refined. To expand its accessibility for remote teams and international collaboration, the tool was also adapted into a digital format.

This project contributed to more inclusive and equitable research practices, supporting the shift toward greater diversity and awareness of sex and gender considerations in health research.