Gender teaching innovation for medical students

Introduction
Gender is routinely recorded for patients yet attention to the role of genders in medical settings is often still lacking. Medical education has a critical role to appropriately teach genders to prepare students to provide patient-centred care across all genders. In response, the Medicine in Context program at Western Sydney University School of Medicine introduced a flipped classroom workshop to help third year Doctor of Medicine students explore the interplay of genders in their patients’ clinical presentation.

Methods
Using principles of blended learning, narrative medicine and station co-teaching, a flipped classroom workshop was developed. The pre-workshop online component provided background information on genders (and sexualities as relevant) and their impact on patient health. During the face-to-face workshop, students discussed gender-related topics in small groups with expert facilitators at five stations. A plenary session summarised students’ learning and offered an opportunity to address any remaining questions.

Evaluation
The workshop was evaluated using mixed methods. Results indicate that the workshop increased students’ self-reported knowledge on gender-related health topics and services. Students’ qualitative responses indicated that they found the workshop useful and engaging. Suggested improvements included involving more gender diverse facilitators and increasing time for discussion at each station. Station topics have been revised based on student feedback and curriculum mapping.

Discussion
The workshop facilitated an engaging and thought-provoking way to teach gender as a social determinant of health. The workshop provided a safe learning environment for students to clarify their perceptions and stereotypes around genders and learn from their classmates. Improving students’ understanding of genders is expected to equip them to deliver gender-sensitive, patient-centred care ultimately improving health outcomes of their patients. The workshop is fully adaptable for online delivery and for teaching in other health professional disciplines.