Author ORCID Identifier
Mingyue Guo: 0009-0008-8280-477X
Na Liu: 0000-0003-1046-0775
Carol Hsu: 0000-0002-6545-9467
Abstract
This literature review investigates how gender, particularly women’s experiences and needs, has been conceptualized and incorporated into Health IT research. Drawing on evidence from 130 empirical studies published in leading IS and health informatics journals, the review addresses the question: How is gender conceptualized and empirically studied in Health IT research? Guided by a four-layered theoretical framework (atheoretical, essentialist, social constructionist, and intersectional), and with analysis focusing on Health IT artifacts and outcomes in each layer, the study finds that although gendered differences are widely observed, they remain insufficiently theorized.
The findings highlight key directions for future research. We call for advancing gender-specific digital health technologies, particularly FemTech, to move beyond superficial design considerations, broaden the assessment of gender-specific Health IT to include non-health outcomes and unintended consequences, and foreground gender in the theorization process to capture the complex and dynamic nature of gendered effects. The study offers both theoretical and practical contributions to promote more inclusive and equitable Health IT design.
Recommended Citation
Guo, M., Liu, N., & Hsu, C. (In press). Advancing FemTech Design and Theorization: Insights from Reviewing Health IT Research and Future Research Direction. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 59, pp-pp. Retrieved from https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol59/iss1/53
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