The study was commissioned by the Health and Gender Subcommittee of the National Council for the Advancement of Women in Science and Technology.
Gender and sex informed medicine is a field designed to develop tools for optimal diagnosis and treatment for men and women, with the awareness that the functioning of all body systems is affected by gender and sex. The understanding that the diagnosis and treatment must be adapted to the different differences and needs and the gender mainstreaming in the health system will contribute to improving the service for better and more correct medicine for the whole population: girls and boys, men, women and LGBTQ people from social, cultural and political positions. The coronavirus pandemic brought to the surface the gaps that exist in society in dealing with the disease. Therefore, in this critical period of global health crisis far-reaching changes are needed: raising gender conscious awareness in medical education n of the future generation.
The research goals:
To illuminate the state of the curricula in the medical and health professions by examining the current programs in the field and to examine the feelings of graduates in medicine and the health professions regarding understanding gender and sex awareness issues as a result of vocational training.
Research components:
- A comparative survey of aspects of gender, sex, identity and society from the university sites.
- Mapping of syllabi courses in Israel in medicine and the health professions that include aspects of gender and sex.
- Distribution of a questionnaire on gender and sex aspects in courses in medicine and the health professions.
Research recommendations:
- There is a need to reinforce and expand the training provided in medical studies and health professions to various aspects of gender and sex to ensure adequate care for diverse population of patients.
- There is a need for a comprehensive change in curricula and raising awareness of gender and sex informed medicine of the faculty members themselves.
- Policymakers in the higher education council, the Ministry of Health and the Medical Association should be approached to promote systemic change to raise awareness and assimilate gender thinking in the teaching of health professions because the core programs are dictated by them.
- The opportunity for change must be seized these days when there are intentions for a fundamental change in medical training.
