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Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18977

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

 

Publication type: Journal Article

Greyson DL, Becu ARE, Morgan SG
Sex, drugs and gender roles: Mapping the use of sex and gender based analysis in pharmaceutical policy research
International Journal for Equity in Health 2010 Nov 19; 9:(1):26
http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/9/1/26


Abstract:

Background
Sex and gender sensitive inquiry is critical in pharmaceutical policy due to the sector’s historic connection with women’s health issues and due to the confluence of biological, social, political, and economic factors that shape the development, promotion, use and effects of medicinal treatments. A growing number of research bodies internationally have issued laws, guidance or encouragement to support conducting sex and gender based analysis (SGBA) in all health related research.

Methods
In order to investigate the degree to which attempts to mainstream SGBA have translated into actual research practices in the field of pharmaceutical policy, we employed methods of literature scoping and mapping. A random sample of English-language pharmaceutical policy research articles published in 2008 and indexed in MEDLINE was analysed according to: 1) use of sex and gender related language, 2) application of sex and gender related concepts, and 3) level of SGBA employed.

Results
Two thirds of the articles (67%) in our sample made no mention of sex or gender. Similarly, 69% did not contain any sex or gender related content whatsoever. Of those that did contain some sex or gender content, the majority focused on sex. Only 2 of the 85 pharmaceutical policy articles reviewed for this study were primarily focused on sex or gender issues; both of these were review articles. Eighty-one percent of the articles in our study contained no SGBA, functioning instead at a sex-blind or gender-neutral level, even though the majority of these (86%) were focused on topics with sex or gender aspects.

Conclusions
Despite pharmaceutical policy’s long entwinement with issues of sex and gender, and the emergence of international guidelines for inclusion of SGBA in health research, the community of pharmaceutical policy researchers has not internalized, or “mainstreamed” the practice. Increased application of SGBA is, in most cases, not only appropriate for the topics under investigation, but well within the reach of today’s pharmaceutical policy researchers.

 

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As an advertising man, I can assure you that advertising which does not work does not continue to run. If experience did not show beyond doubt that the great majority of doctors are splendidly responsive to current [prescription drug] advertising, new techniques would be devised in short order. And if, indeed, candor, accuracy, scientific completeness, and a permanent ban on cartoons came to be essential for the successful promotion of [prescription] drugs, advertising would have no choice but to comply.
- Pierre R. Garai (advertising executive) 1963