Incorporating sex, gender and vulnerable populations in a large multisite health research programme: The Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network as a case study.
BACKGROUND
Funders now frequently require that sex and gender be considered in research programmes, but provide little guidance about how this can be accomplished, especially in large research programmes. The purpose of this study is to present and evaluate a model for promoting sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) in a large health service research programme, the Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network (OPEN).


METHODS
A mixed method study incorporating (1) team members' critical reflection, (2) surveys (n = 37) and interviews (n = 23) at programme midpoint, and (3) an end-of-study survey in 2016 with OPEN research project teams (n = 6).


RESULTS
Incorporating gender and vulnerable populations (GVP) as a cross-cutting theme, with a dedicated team and resources to promote GVP research across the programme, was effective and well received. Team members felt their knowledge was improved, and the programme produced several sex- and gender-related research outputs. Not all resources were well used, however, and better communication of the purposes and roles of the team could increase effectiveness.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience of OPEN suggests that dedicating resources for sex and gender research can be effective in promoting SGBA research, but that research programmes should also focus on communicating the importance of SGBA to their members.
Department of Sociology and Legal Studies, University of Waterloo, 200 University Drive W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada. cooke@uwaterloo.ca.|School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Drive W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada. cooke@uwaterloo.ca.
Martin
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9518-177X
M
Cooke
School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Drive W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
Nancy
N
Waite
Psychology Department, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada.
Katie
K
Cook
Department of Sociology, MacEwan University, 10700 104th Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4S2, Canada.
Emily
E
Milne
School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Drive W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
Feng
F
Chang
Women's College Research Institute at Women's College Hospital, 76 Grenville St., Toronto, ON, M5S 1B2, Canada.|Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St., Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada.|Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Lisa
L
McCarthy
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St., Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada.|Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 101 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
Beth
B
Sproule
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D000071220:Pharmaceutical Research; D010604:Pharmacy; D012108:Research Personnel; D012737:Sex Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
Gender; Pharmacy practice research; Research collaboration; Sex