Sex and gender reporting in Australian health and medical research publications

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine how sex and gender are being incorporated into Australian medical research publications and if this is influenced by journals endorsing the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines, which contain criteria for sex and gender reporting. Methods: Analysis of original research articles published in Australia’s top 10 medical journals in 2020. Results: From the 10 leading journals, 1,136 articles were eligible for analysis, including 990 human participant populations. Sex and/or gender were reported for 873 (88.2%) human populations, with 480 using conflicting terminology. Only 14 (1.6%) described how sex and gender were determined. The primary outcome, or key aim, was stratified by sex and/or gender for 249 (29.2%) participant groups and the influence of sex and/or gender on the results was discussed for only 171 (17.3%). There was no significant association between endorsement of the ICMJE guidelines and adherence to any sex and gender criteria. Conclusions: Sex and gender are poorly incorporated into Australian medical research publications and was not improved by journals endorsing the ICMJE guidelines. Implications for public health: Reporting and analysis of sex and gender data in health research in Australian medical journals requires improvement, for better health for all.