Moving beyond the gender binary in health research: the critical role of Research Ethics Boards

DESCRIPTION OF SESSION

Sex (biological attributes) and gender (social–cultural considerations) in research are important factors for diagnoses, treatment, and prevention strategies. However, these factors are routinely either not included in health research, used interchangeably, or are included in a binary and cisnormative fashion. Cis-women, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse persons experience additional health inequities compared to cisgender men, in part due to limited evidence informing care. The importance of diverse representation of participants in research studies to optimize health has resulted in calls for greater inclusion of participants from minoritized gender identities Research Ethics Boards (REBs) play a critical role in identifying gaps at the earliest stage of research development and ensuring alignment with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2), specifically article 4.1 on appropriate inclusion. Thus, REBs are ideally positioned to promote ethical, gender-inclusive health research. This presentation will introduce participants to Beyond the Binary in Canada, a multi-year process that brought together researchers, community members that experience gender-related health inequities, REB members, and research administrators from across the country to create a nationally relevant Guide. The Beyond the Binary in Canada Guide identifies and evaluates the three main approaches to gender-inclusive language in health research (gender-additive, gender-neutral and anatomy-based), provides practical examples of how to integrate gender-inclusive language, and provides guidance on community engaged and trauma and resiliency informed research. Session Details The presentation will illustrate why gender-inclusive language matters, share good practices for community engaged and trauma and resiliency informed research, and provide practical examples of how REB members can promote and sustain implementation of gender relevant and inclusive research. Key learning outcomes for participants • Increased understanding of the importance of and different approaches to gender-inclusive health research • Increased knowledge of the critical role that reviewers and REBs can play to advance relevant gender-inclusivity in research, ensuring alignment with the TCPS2 core principle of justice. This will include practical examples of how to apply this principal to research inclusion criteria, recruitment strategies and materials, and consent forms. • Increased use of gender-inclusive language principles (via practical REB examples) and knowledge of good practices for community engaged and trauma and resiliency informed research, illustrated with practical examples and exercises for building skills and promoting reflexivity among individuals and teams. While the Beyond the Binary in Canada Guide and this presentation will focus on the context of health research, the information shared with respect to gender-inclusive language, community engagement, trauma and resiliency informed research practice, and the role of reviewers and REBs is relevant for research in all fields.