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Standard addresses ‘historic systemic bias’ in women’s health
The Victorian Women’s Pain Standard reassures women they have a right to be ‘taken seriously and believed’ within healthcare.
A first-of-its-kind inquiry involving 13,000 women and girls found 54% of respondents live with pain every day.
A new Standard has been launched to address a ‘historic systemic bias’ and power imbalance in women’s healthcare, setting out principles that women should expect when seeking treatment for pain.
Launched on Sunday, the Victorian Women’s Pain Standard is a recommendation of a first-of-its-kind 2024 inquiry involving 13,000 women and girls which found more than 90% of respondents experience pain lasting longer than a year and 54% were living with pain every day.
The alarming findings also revealed 89% of respondents reported their pain impacts their mental health, 59% said it impacts recreation and hobbies, and 44% reported impact on their work, study and volunteering activities.
In response, the new Standard lists four principles for all women, girls and gender diverse people, including that they are:
- taken seriously and believed while talking about pain
- listened to and supported to ask questions
- respected as partners in decisions about their body, treatment and care
- given choices and practical support to manage their pain safely and effectively.
The Standard says these principles respond to women reporting that they face the burden of having their pain minimised, normalised or overlooked.
It also states that many women undergo painful gynaecological examinations which can be ‘distressing or traumatic when people are not told what to expect or given the opportunity to discuss and access effective pain relief’.
‘Historic systemic bias has caused many women, girls and gender diverse people to experience unnecessary and avoidable pain,’ the Standard said.
‘It has also contributed to the loss of trust in the healthcare system.’
Professor Danielle Mazza, a GP and member of the Victorian Women’s Health Advisory Council that worked on the inquiry, said the Standard is a ‘useful document to respond to the very legitimate concerns of many women’.
‘This is a document that reassures women that their pain should be taken seriously, that they should be involved in decision making, and that their concerns should be addressed, which is all best practice care,’ she told
newsGP.
‘We’re living in a climate where there’s a lot of misinformation out there and there’s less trust in healthcare professionals than there was a generation ago.
‘So, I think if you have a document like this that sets out that you can expect to be listened to, respected and taken seriously, it’s reassuring and will encourage women to come forward and engage with healthcare professionals.’
The Standard also clarifies that many Victorian health professionals already listen carefully, act early and work with patients to find the best possible care, but the new principles aim to make that experience consistent.
Professor Mazza said she is pleased the Standard acknowledges the many healthcare professionals who already provide a high standard of care.
‘GPs should always recognise that there are power imbalances in all consultations, and that pain can be very debilitating,’ she said.
‘We see our patients in our consulting room, but we don’t see them engaged in their life and how their symptoms affect all aspects of their life, so encourage that conversation to really understand the impact across all of the domains: physical, psychological, emotional, social.
‘Really listen and do the shared decision making and evidence-based care – that’s the bottom line.’
Moving forward, the Standard says all women, girls and gender diverse people should expect to be empowered to understand their condition and treatment options.
It said pain relief options should be discussed before and during gynaecological procedures, including IUD insertion, that women should expect timely diagnosis, early treatment and ongoing care of pain, and have access to culturally safe and inclusive care that recognises past trauma.
‘Women must be heard, believed and treated with respect when seeking care. It’s as simple as that,’ said Victoria Health Minister Ingrid Stitt.
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