Gender sensitivity and stereotypes in medical university students: An Italian cross-sectional study

Abstract

Gender medicine is crucial to reduce health inequalities. Knowledge about students’ attitudes and beliefs regarding men, women and gender is important to improve gender medicine courses. The aim of this study is to evaluate gender stereotypes and its predictors in Italian medical students. We performed an online cross-sectional study among students from the University of Turin. We used the validated Nijmegen Gender Awareness Scale in Medicine scale to explore gender sensitivity and stereotypes. Multivariable logistic regression model was performed to explore potential predictors of gender awareness. We enrolled 430 students. Female sex, a better knowledge on gender medicine and having had a tutor aware of gender issues are associated with higher gender sensitivity. Older age, a better knowledge on gender medicine and having had a tutor sensitive to gender issues were predictors of more stereotyped opinions towards patients. Having had a tutor aware of gender medicine, male sex and older age were associated with more stereotypes towards doctors. Italian students have high gender sensitivity and low gender stereotypes. Age, higher knowledge of gender medicine and having had a tutor that considered gender were associated with higher gender stereotypes. Focusing on gender awareness in medical schools can contribute to a better care.

Gender awareness among the undergraduate medical students: A cross sectional study from Hyderabad, India

“…The GS score was found to be 3.11 (men = 3.14; women = 3.10) among the Indian medical UG students in the present study. Medical students from Switzerland (men = 3.70; women = 3.62) [16], Sweden (men = 3.30; women = 3.37) [18], the Netherlands (men = 3.42; women = 3.43) [18], and Italy (men = 3.73; women = 3.86) [19] reported greater gender sensitivity than the Indian students in the present study. While the mean GRIP and GRID scores in the present study were 2.56 and 2.56, the scores for Swiss medical students showed that they harboured lesser gender stereotyping towards patients (1.92) as well as doctors (2.11) [16].…”

“…Gender stereotyping among medical students varied between countries as well [18]. Lower levels of gender stereotyping were linked to older age, more familiarity with gender medicine, and having had a teacher who took gender into account [19]. The above studies showed varied perceptions and levels of gender awareness among different countries, emphasising the importance of cultural effects on gender attitudes among medical students.…”

Perceived barriers towards the importance and application of medical research: a source of gender disparity among medical undergraduates

“…Among our sample, women were more likely to perceive their gender as a hurdle to the advancement of their career. Due to them being victims of gender inequalities and sufferers of its consequences, women have an increased sensitivity to gender awareness and its associated issues [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Integration of knowledge and competencies regarding sex, gender and further diversity aspects into the curricula of health professions education in Germany – barriers and supporting factors

“…Integration of gender theory is therefore considered necessary to empower female nursing students, make them aware of sociocultural gender roles and how to overcome them and thus improve their professional competence (Andrew et al, 2023). Verdonk et al (2018) developed the Nijmegen Gender Awareness Scale that was used in several countries for medical students, e.g., in Portugal (Morais et al, 2020), Sweden (Andersson et al, 2012), Switzerland (Rrustemi et al, 2020) as well as in Italy (Bert et al, 2022) and was also applied for nursing science (Aliri et al, 2022). The studies showed that gender awareness increases during medical studies and that male students have more stereotypes (Rrustemi et al, 2020).…”