Medicine’s blind spot

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The data we don’t collect on sex

Use this resource to demonstrate the importance of sex equality and the need to address data gaps in clinical research and trials. The video highlights the significance of control groups, randomisation and testing before medicine can be administered to the general population. This resource brings relevance to the classroom as clinical trials continue in Australia, and globally, in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and treatment.

This resource is best suited to students in years 8 and 9 studying Biological science.

Word Count / Video length: 120 / 11:59 min

How do sex and gender play a role in medicine? If women aren’t included in medical studies in high rates, how can we be sure that we’re giving them effective treatments? Cosmos sat down to chat with Professor Zoe Wainer, from the Victorian Department of Health, to talk about the sex and gender data gaps in medicine: how they can result in worse outcomes for everyone, what we still don’t know, and how to find a solution.

Wainer (and colleagues) published a 2020 article on addressing sex and gender analysis in The Medical Journal of Australia. That article can be read here.

Originally published by Cosmos as Medicine’s blind spot

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Years: 8, 9

Topics:

Biological Sciences –  The Body

Additional: Careers, Technology

Concepts (South Australia):

Biological Sciences – Form and Function

Years:

8