The ‘Rural Age’ Summer School took place from 6 to 10 July as part of the interdisciplinary collaborative project Inclusive Excellence in Medicine (InkE) run by the University of Greifswald and Greifswald University Hospital. The event was aimed at early-career researchers and offered a diverse programme exploring issues relating to inclusive and needs-based healthcare for older people, particularly in rural areas. A special focus was placed on research into aspects relating to sex/gender.

As an invited guest speaker, Dr Sophie Horstmann from the Department of Social Epidemiology of the IPP led a workshop on the operationalization of sex/gender diversity in quantitative health research. The topic was examined in the light of the findings and experiences from the interdisciplinary research project DIVERGesTOOL, which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Health and carried out between 2020 and 2023 under the leadership of the Department of Social Epidemiology. As part of the project, a practice-oriented toolbox for the operationalization of sex/gender diversity in quantitative health research was created using a participatory approach.

In the interactive workshop, which took place on the third day of the Summer School, participants learnt about various approaches to operationalizing sex/gender in quantitative health research, with a particular focus on the importance of an intersectional perspective. The insights gained provided impulses for investigating the specific health needs of older people in rural areas, taking into account the role that sex/gender aspects play in this context, as well as the resulting challenges and barriers to health research and care. The workshop offered an opportunity to exchange experiences and questions, as well as to engage in joint reflection and discussion.

Dr. Sophie Horstmann
sophie.horstmannprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
Tel.: +49 421 218-68852