Project 411950

The LGBTQIA2 communities are among the most neglected populations with respect to their health needs. For this project, we want to create an implementation strategy to expand the definition, collection and use of sex and gender information in electronic health record (EHR) systems in Canadian health organizations. We will work closely with stakeholder groups that are responsible for, involved with, interested in, or affected by such information to ensure their needs, preferences and perspectives are addressed. The strategy will describe: (a) the expanded definition, collection and use of sex-gender information in EHRs; (b) the gaps and challenges that exist; and (c) a proposed action plan on the initial steps to modernize this information. We will also create a research grant application drawing on implementation science to study how this strategy will be implemented and the lessons to be learned. This project is timely as the House of Commons Report on "the Health of LGBTQIA2 Communities in Canada" released in summer of 2019 says "... the LGBTQIA2 communities in Canada experience numerous health inequities ... data collection [should] be improved in order to obtain a more complete picture of the health of gender and sexual minorities in Canada." This need is clear with EHR systems where accurate and standardized sex-gender information is a pre-requisite to better understand the health needs of the LGBTQIA2 population, provide the right health services that can improve their health outcomes.