How women can be better included in medicine and UI design

Clinical trials are scientific studies conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and/or tolerability of medical interventions such as drugs, treatment procedures, medical devices or behavioral changes. These studies are crucial for developing new treatment methods, improving existing approaches and expanding medical knowledge.

The problem with this? There are often only a few women among the participants in the studies. In particular, certain age groups or specific health conditions are not sufficiently included. This can lead to a distortion of research results and make it more difficult to develop gender-specific treatment approaches. Due to the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, these gender differences are often not taken into account, which can lead to inaccurate and potentially inappropriate treatment approaches. This is because women and men can differ in terms of disease prevention, symptoms, disease progression and treatment responses.

The female body is subject to greater biological complexity due to hormonal fluctuations in the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and during the menopause. Some researchers fear that these fluctuations could distort the results of the studies.

Some clinical studies also exclude women due to their potential pregnancy or hormonal changes. This is intended to avoid possible risks for the fetus, but at the same time leads to an underrepresentation of women in corresponding studies.

Clinical studies also often require time, mobility and a willingness to comply with certain regulations. As the proportion of women looking after the family and children is still higher than that of men, it is often more difficult for them to meet the requirements. Stereotypes and traditional role expectations can also make women less interested in scientific research and medical studies. This makes participation even less likely.

Various examples can be found in everyday life that point to the discrimination of women in clinical trials and medical research:

• Drug effects and side effects: Studies have shown that women react differently to certain medications than men. However, due to the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, information on gender-specific differences in drug effects and side effects may be lacking. This can mean that medication for women may be less effective or associated with higher risks.
• Cardiovascular diseases: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most common causes of death in women. Nevertheless, many diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been developed primarily on male test subjects. The symptoms of heart attacks, for example, can be different in women than in men, which can lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
• Mental health: Gender-specific differences in the prevalence, symptoms and treatment of mental illnesses are often not sufficiently investigated. For example, women are more frequently affected by depression and anxiety disorders, but research does not always focus sufficiently on their specific needs and experiences.
• Autoimmune diseases: Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, occur more frequently in women. Nevertheless, many studies on the development of new therapies or the evaluation of treatment options are predominantly carried out on male test subjects. This can lead to inadequate consideration of gender-specific differences in disease development and treatment.
• Sports medicine: In sports medicine, training programs and recommendations are often developed primarily on the basis of male study participants. This can lead to women not receiving the specific information and guidance they need to optimize their athletic performance or avoid injury.

The digitalization of the healthcare system is transferring this problem from the analogue world to the digital world. One example of this is health apps based on artificial intelligence. The integrated algorithms often use data sets that predominantly represent the white, male part of the world’s population. This means that women are not given adequate consideration.

Whether digital health apps, DiGA or e-prescriptions – the user groups of digital health applications will grow. These applications are no longer only used by medical professionals, but also by patients themselves. In order to provide these target groups with low-threshold and easy access to the world of digital health, human-centered applications are needed that take into account the needs of the often heterogeneous target groups. These include health-related, age-related and also gender-specific requirements.

By the way: Our colleagues at BAYOOMED GmbH have been working on the topic of FemTech (Female Technology) for some time now and launched the MyIUS app, for example, which helps women with a hormone coil (IUS) to track their cycle.

In the area of UX (user experience), among other factors, different approaches between men and women are also being considered in order to better take into account the needs and preferences of all genders. These approaches are based on the realization that gender can influence differences in the way people use and interact with technology.

It is important to note that these approaches do not always apply to all individuals. Everyone is different, regardless of which gender they feel they belong to. Aspects such as behavior and preferences are influenced by many different factors such as age, level of education and social background.

A user-centered approach always tries to take individual needs and contexts into account, which also includes gender. Our innovation expert Yasin Demiraslan has been supporting clients in the medical & pharmaceutical sector in particular with the development of their UX strategy for human-centered products for over 10 years. In his experience, the following characteristics are relevant with regard to gender when it comes to operating digital applications:

• Design preferences: Men and women may have different preferences for colors, fonts, images and layouts. These preferences can affect the overall aesthetics and attractiveness of a user interface.
• Navigation and information structure: Some women tend to rely more on menu structures and navigation elements, while men may be more inclined to use direct search functions. UX designers can take these differences into account to optimize the user experience.
• Communication style: Women and men may prefer different communication styles. Some women place more value on clear, comprehensive information and context, while some men prefer precise and concise information. Of course, it is not possible to make a blanket statement here either.
• Emotional appeal: Some women respond more strongly to emotional appeal and empathic elements, while some men respond more to factual and rational presentations. UX designers can take this into account in the way they convey messages.
• Functionality: Women may have a greater interest in functionalities that focus on social interaction and community building, while men may pay more attention to technical aspects and innovation. If digital applications are developed to accompany therapy, better and broader success can be achieved by taking these preferences into account.

From online marketing to text – Svenja designs UID’s communications with the Corporate Communications team. After completing her Master’s degree in Sales and Marketing, she joined the team in Ludwigsburg in 2022.

Yasin is Senior Manager Strategic Marketing at UID. In this role, he manages strategic marketing at UID and optimizes the development of new products and services. He also looks after UID clients, primarily from northern and central Germany. Yasin studied economics with a focus on corporate management and innovation management at TU Dortmund University.