Approaches to considering sex and gender in continuous professional development for health and social care professionals: An emerging paradigm

Abstract

Consideration of sex and gender in research and clinical practice is necessary to redress health inequities and reduce knowledge gaps. As all health professionals must maintain and update their skills throughout their career, developing innovative continuing professional education programs that integrate sex and gender issues holds great promise for reducing these gaps. This article proposes new approaches to partnership, team development, pedagogical theory, content development, evaluation and data management that will advance the integration of sex and gender in continuing professional development (CPD). Our perspectives build on an intersectoral and interprofessional research team that includes several perspectives, including those of CPD, health systems, knowledge translation and sex and gender.

Acknowledgments

Dr. France Légaré holds the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Shared Decision Making and Knowledge Translation at Université Laval. Dr. Hélène Lee-Gosselin holds the Chair Claire-Bonenfant - Femmes, Savoirs et Sociétés.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Grant number: 201702IGK-384530-IGK-CFBA-19158).

Notes on contributors

France Légaré

France Légaré, MD, PhD, Université Laval Primary Care Research Centre (CERSSPL-UL), Quebec City, Canada.Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

Hélène Lee-Gosselin

Hélène Lee-Gosselin, PhD, Institute for Women, Societies, Equality and Equity, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

Francine Borduas

Francine Borduas, MD, Médecins Francophone du Canada, Montreal, Canada.

Céline Monette

Céline Monette, BSc, Médecins Francophone du Canada, Montreal, Canada.

André Bilodeau

André Bilodeau, MD, MA, Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, Canada.

Dominique Tanguay

Dominique Tanguay, PhD, Institute for Women, Societies, Equality and Equity, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

Dawn Stacey

Dawn Stacey, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Marie-Pierre Gagnon

Marie-Pierre Gagnon, PhD, Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

Geneviève Roch

Geneviève Roch, PhD, Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada. CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Canada.

Maman Joyce Dogba

Maman Joyce Dogba, PhD, Université Laval Primary Care Research Centre (CERSSPL-UL), Quebec City, Canada. Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

André Bussières

André Bussières, DC, PhD, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Marie-Claude Tremblay

Marie-Claude Tremblay, PhD, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

Annie-Pierre Bélanger

Annie-Pierre Bélanger, MA, Faculty of Social Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.

Caroline Jose

Caroline Jose, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Moncton, Canada. Maritimes SPOR Support Unit, Moncton, Canada.

Sophie Desroches

Sophie Desroches, PhD, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, School of Nutrition, Université Laval.

Hubert Robitaille

Hubert Robitaille, PhD, Université Laval Primary Care Research Centre (CERSSPL-UL), Quebec City, Canada.

Louisa Blair

Louisa Blair, DPT, Université Laval Primary Care Research Centre (CERSSPL-UL), Quebec City, Canada.

Sylvie-Marianne Rhugenda

Sylvie-Marianne Rhugenda, MA, Université Laval Primary Care Research Centre (CERSSPL-UL), Quebec City, Canada.