Pedagogical principles and methods underpinning education of health and social care practitioners on experiences and needs of older LGBT+ people: findings from a systematic review

There is a growing awareness of the need for LGBT + competency training to ensure that the health and social care services offered to older LGBT + people is affirmative and gender sensitive. To conduct a synthesis of the literature that describes the pedagogical principles, curriculum content and methods (teaching and assessment) used to educate health and social care practitioners on the experiences and needs of older LGBT + people. Systematic thematic review of literature. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, Social Sciences Index, ERIC. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement, this review examined peer-reviewed papers published in English, prior to April 2018 that addressed pedagogical and curriculum issues on the inclusion of needs and experiences of older LGBT + people. The combined searches yielded 2214 papers of which 17 papers were eligible for inclusion, 10 discussion papers and 7 evaluation studies. Analysis identified the following themes: i) Acknowledging the wider historical context of older LGBT + people's lives; ii) Recognising that older LGBT + people are not a homogenous group; iii) Incorporating a multitude of theories and models from different perspectives; iv) Alerting practitioners to the health issues and disparities facing older LGBT + people; v) Including content that supports inclusive care for older LGBT + people; vi) Addressing barriers to older LGBT + people accessing health care; vii) Interactive activities are the preferred pedagogical strategy; viii) Involving older LGBT + people in curriculum development is a core principle; and ix) Mandatory education is not always the solution. As the field matures there is a need for more exploration of curriculum principles, assessment strategies and strategies to overcome barriers to the inclusion of issues experienced by older LGBT + people within curricula. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BEING ME: Project report on best practices in learning and education to support LGBT ageing care and wellbeing

This report is based on our experiences of using a collaborative approach to identifying best practices for those involved in professional, vocational and community-based education and learning, in order to facilitate improved support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) older people in health and social care. The best practices discussed here on learning and teaching, emerged from cross national collaboration and intercultural dialogue with a variety of stakeholders, including older LGBT people, educators, practitioners and learners using the World Café method. As one of the workstreams within the BEING ME European Project funded by EU Erasmus Plus (https://www.beingme.eu/), we aimed to promote and support the social inclusion of LGBT older people through positive interaction with educational institutions that prepare future professionals to work with older people. The best practices described here include a) identifying pedagogic approaches (the method and practice of teaching) b) generating examples of tailored educational resources c) recommendations on how to improve the knowledge and capabilities of future care professionals in the area of LGBT affirmative practices. Through a process of learning and exchange during two World Cafés, these areas were able to be more clearly articulated and should be read in conjunction with the BEING ME ‘Best Practice principles’ (https://beingme.eu/public/application/downloads/resources/being-me-best-practice-principles-20190212.pdf) which underpin good practice in the area of LGBT ageing care. Giving specific attention to identify ways of enhancing the skills, knowledge and capabilities of practitioners through education, should place them in a better position to develop a culture of support, openness and respect for LGBT identities which in turn are essential to LGBT older people's inclusiveness in care environments. The Best Practices Report provides the foundation for the development of the BEING ME educators online ‘toolkit’ aimed at both formal and informal learning settings and to a range of disciplines professions and vocations in health and social care

Learning to deliver LGBT+ aged care: exploring and documenting best practices in professional and vocational education through the World Café method

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

Guidance on the environmental risk assessment of plant pests

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) requested the Panel on Plant Health to develop a methodology for assessing the environmental risks posed by harmful organisms that may enter, establish and spread in the European Union. To do so, the Panel first reviewed the methods for assessing the environmental risks of plant pests that have previously been used in pest risk assessment. The limitations identified by the review led the Panel to define the new methodology for environmental risk assessment which is described in this guidance document. The guidance is primarily addressed to the EFSA PLH Panel and has been conceived as an enhancement of the relevant parts of the “Guidance on a harmonised framework for pest risk assessment and the identification and evaluation of pest risk management options by EFSA”. Emphasizing the importance of assessing the consequences on both the structural (biodiversity) and the functional (ecosystem services) aspects of the environment, this new approach includes methods for assessing both aspects for the first time in a pest risk assessment scheme. A list of questions has been developed for the assessor to evaluate the consequences for structural biodiversity and for ecosystem services in the current area of invasion and in the risk assessment area. To ensure the consistency and transparency of the assessment, a rating system has also been developed based on a probabilistic approach with an evaluation of the degree of uncertainty. Finally, an overview of the available risk reduction options for pests in natural environments is presented, minimum data requirements are described, and a glossary to support the common understanding of the principles of this opinion is provided

Scientific Opinion on the phytosanitary risk associated with some coniferous species and genera for the spread of pine wood nematode

The European Commission requested the Panel on Plant Health to deliver a scientific opinion on the phytosanitary risk of plants (other than fruits and seeds) of Pinus pinea and of the genera Chamaecyparis, Cryptomeria and Juniperus for the spread of pine wood nematode (PWN) via movement of infested plants or untreated plant products or by supporting natural spread of PWN in conjunction with European species of the vector. The Panel analysed the data submitted by Portugal regarding surveys on the Tróia Peninsula where P. pinaster and P. pinea co-occur, and the related laboratory results of Naves et al. (2006) on feeding and oviposition preferences of Monochamus galloprovincialis. The Panel also undertook a comprehensive review of the literature. The zero infestation of PWN recorded on P. pinea on the Tróia Peninsula was not significantly different from the result for P. pinaster, because of the small P. pinea sample. Hence, the conclusion that P. pinea is not a host plant for PWN is not supported by the data submitted, principally because of low statistical confidence arising from the few P. pinea trees present. Moreover, the limited presence of P. pinea in the study areas means that the results are representative neither of the Tróia Peninsula nor of other parts of Portugal. Naves et al. (2006) recorded some oviposition by M. galloprovincialis on P. pinea, but less than on other hosts. No differences in feeding of M. galloprovincialis on P. pinaster and P. pinea were detected, thus potentially allowing PWN transmission to trees by this route. The available information regarding the genera Chamaecyparis, Cryptomeria and Juniperus as potential hosts of Monochamus spp. and PWN suggests overall a low susceptibility to PWN or its vectors; the uncertainty concerning PWN is high and would require supplementary research

Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the pest risk analysis on Pomacea insularum, the island apple snail, prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs

The Panel considers the Spanish pest risk analysis (PRA) to be clear and to provide appropriate supporting evidence. However, (i) the environmental impact assessment is incomplete and (ii) the estimates for the potentially endangered area are too limited. The Panel points out that large areas of the European Union have climatic conditions, that are very similar to those of the areas of native distribution of Pomacea spp. snails, and suitable host plants are available. The Panel agrees with the Spanish PRA on the following points with regard to the risk assessment area: (i) the potential consequences of the organism for rice crops are major; (ii) the probability for establishment of the organism is very likely and (iii) the probability of spread is estimated as likely. The Panel disagrees with the Spanish PRA on the following points and considers (i) the effects on the environment to be massive under suitable environmental conditions in the PRA area and (ii) the probability of entry of the organism to be high. Regarding risk reduction options the Panel agrees with the Spanish PRA that no single risk reduction method is sufficient to halt the introduction and spread of Pomacea spp. snails in the PRA area. However, a legislative ban on import of Pomacea spp. is the only risk reduction option identified that can reduce the probability of entry. The many other risk reduction options listed will help to reduce the probability of spread within the PRA area. The Panel considers that the risk reduction options should target the canaliculata complex, as Pomacea insularum and P. canaliculata, as well as other species from the complex, are almost indistinguishable. This is of particular importance for risk reduction options addressing both breeding and trade of the organism

Statement on a heat treatment to control Agrilus planipennis

In 2011, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health was asked by the European Commission to provide an opinion on a technical file submitted by the US Authorities to support a request to list a new heat treatment (60 °C/60 min) among the EU import requirements for wood of Agrilus planipennis host plants. After a thorough analysis of the documents provided the Panel concluded that, with a low uncertainty, A. planipennis is likely to survive the proposed heat treatment of 60 °C/60 min, and that, to ensure a control level of 99 % the temperature of the heat treatment of 60 min should be higher than 70 °C. Following the publication of this scientific opinion, the US Authorities submitted a new proposal to the European Commission, consisting in a new heat treatment (71.1 °C/60 min). The EFSA Panel on Plant Health was asked to consider whether this new proposal was within the scope of the published opinion and, if not, to clarify its conclusion and indicate what data would be needed to assess the effectiveness of the new treatment. The Panel concluded that the new proposal is not within the scope of the opinion as the data provided by the US Authorities cannot be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the new proposed heat treatment. An accurate assessment of the new proposed heat treatment (71.1 °C/60 min) would require an experiment including several temperatures higher than 70 °C (one corresponding to the proposed treatment). Regarding the data requirements for assessing the effectiveness of the new treatment, the Panel lists the information required in the checklist presented in the Panel’s draft guidance document on methodology for evaluation of the effectiveness of options to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of organisms harmful to plant health in the EU territory, currently under public consultation on EFSA website