Determining identity in medical research

Society marginalises certain identity groups, including women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people, and those with disabilities, in ways that adversely affect their health and their participation in the medical profession. Increasingly, research seeks to understand health inequities and workforce inequalities and to develop effective interventions to reduce both.12345 Such research relies on valid determination of individuals’ identities. Methodological challenges have multiplied as our understanding of the complexities of social and biological constructs has evolved, including growing recognition of the need for intersectional analyses that account for the unique lived experiences of those with more than one marginalised identity characteristic.6 Efforts to increase the capture of demographic and identity related data include US National Institutes of Health guidance on the need to be more inclusive of marginalised and minority groups and the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research race equality framework.78

Participants in clinical trials can be asked to report their relevant …