[The "gender" variable in the research process: Requirements contained in the application guidelines of funding institutions in the health sector].

Background: When addressing the variable "gender" in health research designs, a distinction is made between biological ("sex") and sociocultural or psychosocial aspects ("gender"). In health research, it is important to avoid systematic errors that may result when gender aspects are inappropriately or not sufficiently addressed (so-called gender bias). A gender bias occurs, for instance, when the presence of gender differences is assumed without empirical evidence or when research data that was generated from samples of male participants is automatically applied to women. Funding institutions can create incentives for researchers to integrate gender-sensitive analyses into their research projects and to consider the potential influence of the "gender" variable. The aim of this study was to explore which explicit requirements concerning gender aspects applicants to German funding institutions in the various health sectors need to meet in their research designs.

Methods: From March to June 2019, we researched funding institutions in the health sector at the German federal level. We examined the funding guidelines of each identified institution in light of their requirements for applicants to take gender aspects into consideration in their research. We explored this in a two-step procedure (online document search and e-mail contact).

Results: We examined 18 institutions. Information on the requirements for applicants to address gender aspects in their research projects was identified for four institutions: the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the German Federal Ministry of Health, the German Research Foundation, and the Volkswagen Stiftung. In particular, the consideration of gender aspects for planned research projects was used as an evaluation criterion in the institutions' application guidelines available online. If considered relevant for a planned research project, the consideration of gender aspects affects project planning, implementation and evaluation of results. Eight institutions had no such requirements. For the remaining six institutions, we were not able to find any such information, neither by document research nor through e-mail contact.

Discussion And Conclusion: Only a few funding institutions in the health sector have so far included requirements regarding the consideration of the "gender" variable in health research in their application guidelines. Furthermore, the funding institutions' requirements are somewhat heterogeneous and need standardization. Funding institutions in the health sector could identify research needs and set new research priorities in order to expand the empirical evidence on gender aspects in the various health sectors and to increase the social benefit of the scientific results obtained. In this way, applicants can be sensitized and encouraged to consider gender aspects in their research projects and, if necessary, to conduct them in a gender-differentiated manner.