6.03.2024
How women can be better included in medicine and UI design
When developing UIs, it is particularly important for us to consider all user groups and meet all needs, especially in the field of medical technology. Demographic data such as the age of the target group is relevant here. But gender also plays a role in user-centered design.
However, this has often not been the case in medical research. Many medications and treatments are often primarily intended for men and are less effective for women. Why this is the case and what we can do about it, you can find out in our article.
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.
Why is that?
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.
Examples from our everyday life
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.
Excursus: How gender can affect the UX
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.
What we can do to combat the underrepresentation of women
In addition to product designs that include all users, measures are needed at the research stage to overcome these disadvantages. To create a fairer research environment, we need to take action:
- Targeted recruitment: It is important to develop targeted recruitment strategies to actively involve women in clinical trials. A broader and more representative participant base enables better consideration of gender-specific differences.
- Awareness raising and training: Research teams need to be aware of gender differences and integrate gender aspects into study design and analysis. Awareness-raising measures and training can help to raise awareness of these important issues.
- Collaboration and networking: Close collaboration between research institutions, medical societies and regulatory authorities is crucial to promote gender-sensitive research and the inclusion of women in clinical trials.
- Promoting diversity: Considering diversity in research teams can lead to a more comprehensive view of gender differences. The inclusion of female researchers in management positions and decision-making processes is also important to ensure a balanced perspective.
Conclusion
The underrepresentation of women in clinical trials is not just a statistical problem, but a question of medical justice and effectiveness. Progress to date is encouraging, but there is still an urgent need for action to ensure that medical knowledge is equally relevant and applicable to all genders.
The complex implications of underrepresentation are clear: drugs, therapies and treatment approaches that have been tested primarily on men may be less effective or potentially riskier for women. Gender-specific differences in disease progression and responses to treatment may be overlooked, leading to skewed results and missed opportunities.
A coordinated approach is required to tackle these challenges. This includes the targeted recruitment of women for clinical trials, the development of awareness-raising training for researchers to take gender-specific aspects into account, and the creation of flexible working conditions that facilitate the participation of women. Promoting female leaders in medical research will also help to establish a more inclusive research culture.
Ultimately, gender-equitable research is a key step towards better healthcare for all. Taking gender differences into account in clinical trials will not only increase the accuracy of medical findings, but also provide the opportunity to develop personalized and more effective treatments tailored to the unique needs of women and men – and this should also apply to digital applications/opportunities. The user-centered approach, which takes individual needs and contexts – which also includes gender – into account right from the start of product development, helps here.
The authors
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.