Introduction
Research suggests that specific training on LGBT+ issues may improve the competencies and skills of health and social care (HSC) professionals, which reduces the negative attitudes ...toward LGBT+ people. Despite this, there seems to be a lack of coverage of LGBT+ needs in HSC education. The present study aims to explore the specific LGBT+ training needs of HSC professionals and to examine the relationship between these training needs and the four dimensions of the Papadopoulos model, i.e.
cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural sensitivity,
and
cultural competence.
Methods
The research used data from a cross-cultural project, “Intercultural Education for Nurses in Europe (IENE9),” which was administered to 412 HSC academics and workers (62% females;
M
age
= 46.06,
SD
age
= 10.48) between February 2020 and July 2020, in seven European countries: UK (coordinator), Denmark, Spain, Germany, Cyprus, Italy, and Romania.
Results
Hierarchical multiple regression showed that higher training needs were associated with
cultural awareness
,
cultural knowledge
, and
cultural competence
. The need for training on LGBT+ issues was higher for Cyprus, Romania, Spain, Italy, and the UK, compared with Denmark (no differences between Germany and Denmark were found).
Conclusions
We believe that there has been a lack of focus on the LGBT+ training needs of HSC professionals: Greater efforts are required to develop a culturally competent and compassionate LGBT+ curriculum.
Social Policy Implications
Findings from the present study will inform the development of a free, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), for culturally competent and compassionate HSC professionals in Europe to improve the quality of their care.
The study aims to analyze the main characteristics and differences relating to the lived experiences of coming out in the workplace in two very different territorial contexts (Italy and England), ...looking at universities as a case study.
Thirty sexual and gender minority university teachers (15 from Italy and 15 from England), ranging from 29 to 56 years of age (M = 41.66; SD = 10.13), were recruited in 2019 to participate in a qualitative research study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed in line with the assumptions of the six-step thematic analysis approach.
The propensity to come out in the workplace is mainly affected by legislative safeguards. However, policies and the regulatory framework alone are not enough. Results suggested that the cultural context and the working climate have an equally significant impact.
The stigma toward LGBT+ people cannot be eradicated overnight and changing cultural beliefs is a slow process that requires imaginative and creative methods to get students and the university community to interact with LGBT+ people.
Stimulating a bottom-up change within individual institutions can represent a possible strategy to activate a process of change and social inclusion toward the LGBT+ community with an echo on the wider environmental and cultural context.
Objective To explore the effect of physical exercise at high altitudes (HA) on male reproductive system. Design Prospective study. Setting Andrology Clinic, University of L'Aquila, Italy. Patient(s) ...Seven male mountaineers involved in an expedition at 5,900 m. Intervention(s) Semen analysis, sperm DNA fragmentation with flow cytometry, and reproductive hormone levels. Main Outcome Measure(s) Hormone levels were evaluated at sea level (SL) at baseline (SL-pre), after 22 days of exercise at HA (intermediate), and after 10 days upon reaching SL (SL-post). Sperm parameters, percentage of sperm with fragmented DNA, and body composition measures were evaluated at SL-pre and at SL-post. Result(s) A reduction of sperm concentration, of body mass index (BMI), of waist circumference, and of percentage of body fat was observed at SL-post compared with SL-pre values. Increased levels of FSH and PRL were observed at the intermediate point, and normalized at SL-post, whereas T was higher at SL-post compared with SL-pre levels. Conclusion(s) Physical exercise at HA is associated with a testicular dysfunction leading to a reduced sperm concentration probably through an altered spermiation. The improved body composition after physical exercise might explain the higher T levels observed after the expedition.
Professional guidelines for social workers in relation to research use in practice, present social workers as consumers, rather than producers of research evidence. This approach aligns with a ...growing emphasis on the use of evidence-based practice within social work. This paper reports on a small mixed methods study with a cohort of BA social work students (N = 38) with two aims: 1) to understand the experiences of students learning research at undergraduate level and 2) to explore how their learning and placement experiences interact and influence their development as 'research-minded' practitioners of the future. Descriptive statistics of the quantitative data and thematic analysis of focus groups are presented. Our findings support the existing literature relating to social work students attitudes to research, including feelings of anxiety and perceptions of difficulty, while also viewing it as important to their careers. We also found that within placement settings, students encounter negative, often dismissive views of research and experience little in the way of role-modelling of evidence-based practice. We consider these findings in light of the promotion of EBP in UK social work, and how this may influence our teaching of research and evidence use to future student cohorts.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The number of the circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) and colony forming units (CFUs) derived from cultured circulating mononuclear cells (MNCs) represents a laboratory surrogate for endothelial cell ...repair ability. The serum of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and vascular risk factors (VRFs) showed an increased level of endothelial cell damage/dysfunction markers and reduced the numbers of CACs and CFUs derived from the cells of healthy men. We analyzed whether treating men with ED and VRFs with the selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor tadalafil improved the endothelial cell repair ability and reduced the levels of the serum markers of endothelial cell damage/dysfunction. MNCs from healthy men were cultured with 20% serum from 36 ED patients to obtain CACs and CFUs. The ED patients were evaluated before and after 4 weeks of treatment with tadalafil (20 mg every other day) or with a placebo. The tadalafil treatment improved erectile function (P = 0.0028), but had no effect on the inhibitory effects of serum from ED patients on the CACs and CFUs derived from healthy men. The levels of endothelin-1 (P = 0.011) and tissue type plasminogen activator (P = 0.005) were reduced after treatment compared to baseline and those of the placebo group, whereas no changes were observed in the E-selectin levels. The tadalafil treatment in the ED patients with VRFs resulted in only a modest effect on the laboratory measures of the endothelial cell damage/dysfunction and repair ability. The proposed beneficial effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition on vascular homeostasis requires further analysis.
Employing graduate students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) is increasingly popular across different institutions in the United Kingdom. GTAs support ...students' learning as well as assisting academics in preparing sessions and, at times, with research. The GTA scheme is seen as a developmental role for graduate students who wish to pursue a career in the education sector; it is the first step on the ladder to becoming an academic. This paper provides an insight into the GTA role, outlines the challenges GTAs face and the rewards they receive while engaging with students, academics and research in a UK-based university.
•Students on the transgender spectrum are significantly under-researched.•College or university is a significant time for students to develop their identity.•Empirical studies reveal significant ...complexities around gender in education.•Action to promote transgender equality in post-compulsory education is now urgent.
Students identifying on the transgender spectrum are significantly under-researched and under-reported in the education literature. Long term detrimental effects of gender-identity based discrimination and violence requires us to find more inclusive ways of supporting students with transgender identities. We report findings from a systematic review of the international research on transgender students in post-compulsory education. A standardised review protocol was used to synthesise findings from twenty empirical studies to: 1) describe the complexities of gender identities within education; 2) situate the importance of targeting equality issues for transgender students, and; 3) highlight emerging innovations and the need for further research. We recommend more critical engagement and dialogue with transgender issues to challenge institutional policies, processes in education with those involved
The IENE projects (2008-2022) aim to promote a model for developing intercultural dialogue and enhance the ability to provide culturally competent and compassionate care for the health and social ...care professionals at national and European levels. The IENE 9 project, named "Developing a culturally competent and compassionate LGBT + curriculum in health and social care education," builds on the work developed in the previous IENE projects and emphasizes the importance of addressing LGBT + issues in health and social care education.
Through an innovative Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), professionals will learn the skills to work toward building an LGBT + inclusive health and social care system.
Notwithstanding the progress made in recent years on LGBT + issues, research indicates that too little attention has been given to LGBT + needs in health and social care settings, and these remain substantial issues that are often ignored.
This letter to the editor aims to present the IENE 9 project given that greater efforts are needed to improve professionals' skills regarding sexual and gender minority population. We strive to continue our efforts in promoting the well-being and mental health of LGBT + people in health and social care education.
Substantial evidence on the adverse impact of ageing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) populations through the lack of inclusive care services has highlighted the need for education ...and training of the health and social care workforce to enhance their skills, knowledge and capabilities in this area. We describe a cross-national collaboration across four European Union countries called BEING ME. This collaboration examined the current pedagogic environment within professional, vocational and community-based education to identify what is most valuable for addressing these needs. The World Café method enabled a process of structured learning and knowledge exchange between stakeholders resulting in: (a) identification of best practices in pedagogies, (b) generation of tailored co-produced educational resources, and (c) recommendations on how to improve the knowledge and capabilities of future care professionals in the area of LGBT+ affirmative practices. Combined with themes from the post-Café evaluation, our findings suggest that underpinning professional and vocational education with a person-in-environment perspective facilitates going some way to acknowledging the historical context of older LGBT+ people's lives. Addressing the unique needs of sub-populations within LGBT+ communities and setting these in the context of holistic and person-centred care may better enable the meeting of their unique diverse needs for ageing. Recommendations are made for learning and teaching strategies to support improved LGBT+ aged care.
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