A Feminist Quality Appraisal Tool

Exposing gender bias and gender inequities in health research

Bibliographic Data

ID15295559
AuthorsTessa Morgan (0000-0003-4917-6149, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, corresponding author), Lisa Williams (0000-0002-0398-993X, University of Auckland), Lisa Ann Williams (Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand), Merryn Gott (0000-0003-4399-962X, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand)
Year2016
Volume27
Issue2
Pages263-274
Publication date2016-07-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritical Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0958-1596 • E-ISSN: 1469-3682
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09581596.2016.1205182
OpenAlexW2462582885
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited68

Quality appraisal tools used in systematic reviews to evaluate health literature do not adequately address issues related to gender. This oversight is significant because disparities between genders have been identified as a major health equity concern, and systematic reviews are regarded as a powerful means for informing policy that could redress gender inequities. In this paper, we present our Feminist Quality Appraisal Tool that offers researchers a template to undertake a comprehensive gendered analysis of studies they review. Informed by a feminist perspective, the tool addresses issues of power, gender and inequity, thereby giving researchers the means to interrogate the scientific rigour of systematic reviews that focus on gender. Specifically, our tool outlines ways gender can be critically examined in terms of study design, data collection, analysis, discussion and recommendations. We argue that this tool has the potential to improve the provision of public health by providing solid understandings and critical reflections on the reasons why women continue to face barriers in their access to optimal health care

Alternative medicine · Critical appraisal · Equity (law · Gender equality · Gender mainstreaming · Health care · Health equity · MEDLINE · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Redress · Rigour · Sociology · Systematic review · Gender Studies · Health Policy Implementation Science · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Sex and Gender in Healthcare