Sex and gender documentation in medical records

Project description

Medical documentation systems usually offer a binary male or female option for the administrative gender and only one option for first name. For trans and non-binary individuals, this can lead to misgendering (i.e. use of incorrect gender), misunderstandings, and delayed care or problems in care provision. Our project addresses this by developing evidence-based, stakeholder-approved and expert-validated guidelines for recording sex, gender identity and related variables.

Research aim

Our aim is to provide recommendations on what type of sex and gender information should be collected in medical records, and who should have access to this information. We will ensure that our guidelines respect trans and non-binary people and are also understandable for those unfamiliar with gender diversity. The results will be of interest to patients, healthcare providers, researchers, IT specialists, policymakers and stakeholders interested in building an equitable healthcare system.

Purpose

Our project ensures inclusive healthcare by developing standardised ways to document sex and gender identity. For trans and non-binary people, it will reduce systemic challenges by ensuring that their identities are respected. It will provide a framework for equitable and non-discriminatory policies, improve care delivery, reduce errors and ensure accurate data collection. Implementation of this framework will require collaboration among policymakers, healthcare providers and IT specialists.