Orthogonal polynomials of discrete variable and boundedness of Dirichlet kernel

For orthogonal polynomials defined by compact Jacobi matrix with exponential decay of the coefficients, precise properties of orthogonality measure is determined. This allows showing uniform boundedness of partial sums of orthogonal expansions with respect to $L^\infty$ norm, which generalize analogous results obtained for little $q$-Legendre, little $q$-Jacobi and little $q$-Laguerre polynomials, by the authors

In or out? Barriers and facilitators to refugee-background young people accessing mental health services

Refugee young people have been identified as a group with high risk for mental health problems, due to their experience of trauma, forced migration, and stressors associated with settlement. A high prevalence of mental health problems is reported in this group, however some research suggests refugee young people have low rates of mental health service access. There is little information available on barriers and facilitators to mental service delivery for this group. Using data from 15 focus groups and five key informant interviews with a total of 115 service providers from 12 agencies in Melbourne, Australia, this paper explores barriers and facilitators to engaging young people from refugee backgrounds with mental health services. Eight key themes emerged: cultural concepts of mental health, illness, and treatment; service accessibility; trust; working with interpreters; engaging family and community; the style and approach of mental health providers; advocacy; and continuity of care

Improving access to and engagement with mental health services among young people from refugee backgrounds: service user and provider perspectives

Limited research has been conducted worldwide on the experiences that children and young people from refugee backgrounds have with mental health services, despite evidence that they have significant vulnerability to the development of mental health problems and to suicidal behaviour and that those with mental ill-health typically underutilise services. The authors were particularly interested in barriers and facilitators to service access and engagement, and conducted two qualitative research projects to improve understanding of the issues – the first with service providers experienced in the refugee area and the second with young refugee service users. The aim of this project was to compare the perspectives of professionals and service users and to identify similarities and differences. The perspectives of the service users and providers were strikingly similar. The analysis identified 21 implications for policy makers, agencies and practitioners, which ranged from issues concerning cultural sensitivity, background matching and mental health literacy to accessibility, setting boundaries and expectations and implementing a holistic and outreach approach. There is a range of specific, practical measures that policy makers and service providers can introduce to enhance access to and engagement with mental health services for young people from refugee backgrounds

Having a say in research directions : The role of community researchers in participatory research with communities of refugee and migrant background

Research teams in high-income countries often fail to acknowledge the capacity and contributions of Community Researchers. This qualitative exploratory study used decolonising methodology and the Foundation House ‘Refugee Recovery Framework’ to understand Community Researchers’ perceptions and experiences of their role, and how research teams can integrate the knowledge they bring into research. Purposive sampling was used to facilitate the recruitment of eight Community Researchers from five different community groups working in Melbourne, Victoria. Semi-structured interviews lasting forty to sixty minutes occurred between December 2020 and January 2021. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings reported in this paper include eight themes: ‘nothing about us without us’; ‘open the door’; a safe space to share; every step of the way; this does not translate; finding the right way to ask; a trauma-informed approach; and support within the workplace. The knowledge obtained demonstrates that Community Researchers facilitate meaningful participation in research for women, families, and communities of refugee or migrant background. Community Researchers’ presence, knowledge, and skills are vital in establishing culturally safe research practices and developing accessible language to facilitate conversations about sensitive research topics across multiple languages. Community Researchers can make important contributions at all stages of research, including data collection and interpretation

A controlled trial of implementing a complex mental health intervention for carers of vulnerable young people living in out-of-home care: the ripple project

BACKGROUND: Out-of-home care (OoHC) refers to young people removed from their families by the state because of abuse, neglect or other adversities. Many of the young people experience poor mental health and social function before, during and after leaving care. Rigorously evaluated interventions are urgently required. This publication describes the protocol for the Ripple project and notes early findings from a controlled trial demonstrating the feasibility of the work. The Ripple project is implementing and evaluating a complex mental health intervention that aims to strengthen the therapeutic capacities of carers and case managers of young people (12-17 years) in OoHC. METHODS: The study is conducted in partnership with mental health, substance abuse and social services in Melbourne, with young people as participants. It has three parts: 1. Needs assessment and implementation of a complex mental health intervention; 2. A 3-year controlled trial of the mental health, social and economic outcomes; and 3. Nested process evaluation of the intervention. RESULTS: Early findings characterising the young people, their carers and case managers and implementing the intervention are available. The trial Wave 1 includes interviews with 176 young people, 52% of those eligible in the study population, 104 carers and 79 case managers. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing and researching an affordable service system intervention appears feasible and likely to be applicable in other places and countries. Success of the intervention will potentially contribute to reducing mental ill-health among these young people, including suicide attempts, self-harm and substance abuse, as well as reducing homelessness, social isolation and contact with the criminal justice system. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000501549 . Retrospectively registered 19 May 2015

ORTHOGONAL POLYNOMIALS OF DISCRETE VARIABLE AND BOUNDEDNESS OF DIRICHLET KERNEL

Abstract. For orthogonal polynomials defined by compact Jacobi matrix with exponential decay of the coefficients, precise properties of orthogonality measure is determined. This allows showing uniform boundedness of partial sums of orthogonal expansions with respect to L ∞ norm, which generalize analogous results obtained for little q-Legendre, little q-Jacobi and little q-Laguerre polynomials, by the authors. 1

Interpreter requirements of women from non-English speaking migrant backgrounds in maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia

Purpose: Access to professional interpreter services is a critical facilitator of positive health-care experiences when health-care professionals and women accessing maternity care are not proficient in a shared language. Understanding interpreter demand is essential for the provision of professional interpreter services. This study aims to characterise interpreter requirements among women from nonrefugee and refugee non-English-speaking migrant backgrounds in Australian maternity hospitals. Design/methodology/approach: This study analysed administrative data from four public maternity hospitals in Victoria, Australia. The primary outcome was the proportion of women from non-English speaking migrant backgrounds who required an interpreter during their maternity care, both overall and stratified by refugee and nonrefugee background. Adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate the association between migrant background and interpreter requirements. Findings: Among the 6,771 women from non-English speaking migrant backgrounds included in analyses, 1,344 (19.8%) required an interpreter during their maternity care. The odds of requiring an interpreter were fivefold higher among women from refugee backgrounds compared to migrant women from nonrefugee backgrounds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.13–5.65]. Practical implications: The study highlights the diversity in cultural backgrounds and migration experiences of women accessing maternity care within metropolitan public hospitals. The high interpreter requirements, particularly among women from refugee backgrounds, underscores the need for comprehensive and woman-centred interpreter services to attenuate disparities in hospital maternity care.Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to quantify the interpreter requirements of women from non-English-speaking migrant backgrounds in maternity hospital settings and make women comparisons between women from refugee and nonrefugee backgrounds

Teach-Back in Interpreter-Mediated Consultations: Reflections from a Case Study

Background: Women with a refugee background and their families who have settled in a new country can be expected to have low health literacy, and this may be a contributing factor to poor perinatal outcomes. Brief description of activity: Effective communication is critical for meaningful engagement with patients. Teach-Back is an interactive tool that can assist health professionals confirm whether they are communicating effectively so they are understood and their patients can apply health information. However, evidence for its effectiveness in interpreter-mediated appointments is lacking. Implementation: An antenatal clinic caring for women with a refugee background provided an opportunity to explore the benefits and challenges of using Teach-Back with this population. Staff had access to informal on-site training on health literacy and Teach-Back, tried using Teach-Back in their clinical work, and were then asked to provide feedback on what it was like using Teach-Back. Results: This case study identified several challenges when applying Teach-Back in interpreter-mediated antenatal health care appointments associated with differing cultural nuances and cultural practices. Lessons learned: Building interpersonal and cross-cultural communication capabilities among health professionals is essential in advancing health literacy workforce practice to improve the health literacy of non-English speaking refugee communities. Although Teach-Back may have the potential to be a powerful tool in promoting the health literacy of these women during pregnancy, further research is required to ensure that its use promotes safe and equitable health care

Realist Review of Programs, Policies, and Interventions to Enhance the Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People Living in Out-of-Home Care

The child protection system in Australia includes out-of-home care (OoHC) for children and young people at risk of harm and neglect. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are 9 times more likely to be placed in care than non-Aboriginal young people (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015). Australia’s history of colonization and subsequent policies have caused trauma to individuals, families, and communities and resulted in poor physical and mental health and mistrust of services. This review was undertaken to identify programs and policies currently in place that aim to improve the mental health and well-being of this vulnerable population. It provides an analysis of both the strengths of the current system as well as what has been inadequately addressed based on literature in the area.By incorporating an Aboriginal perspective, this review focuses on social, emotional, and spiritual well-being (SESWB) and the aspects of a child’s life and community that promote this. A realist review of the academic and grey literature was conducted in 2014. It included an extensive search of government and non-government (NGO) publications. The review identified nine programs or policies that are designed to improve the SESWB of Aboriginal young people in OoHC in local and international settings. These are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, cultural support plans, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), family group decision-making, therapeutic care, and Panyappi Mentoring Program. Given that culturally competent service provision is important to SESWB, the review concludes that an increase in monitoring and evaluation is necessary to determine the effectiveness of programs and ensure their implementation and sustainability when warranted. Policy and research work is needed to adapt and devise programs promoting the SESWB of Aboriginal young people (at both the individual and system levels), determine their effectiveness, and ensure they are sustained when warranted