title: Refugee settlement workers' perspectives on home safety issues for people from refugee backgrounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Refugees experience higher levels of emotional, psychological and physical distress than the general migrant population during settlement in a new country. Safety in the home can be a major concern and is an issue of which occupational therapists should be aware. Occupational therapists working with refugees in many contexts feel unprepared and overwhelmed. As refugee settlement workers attend to home safety of refugees during the settlement process, this study aimed to develop an in-depth understanding of their perceptions of this issue. Such information can contribute to occupational therapists' knowledge and practice when working with refugees.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory qualitative case study approach used 16 semi-structured interviews and observation of a settlement worker assisting newly arrived refugees. Participants were settlement service staff (an occupational therapist, case coordinators and cultural support workers).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes are reported: considerations for safety in the homes of refugees; factors influencing home safety for refugees; and sensitivity to culture. Participants described tailoring home safety-related services to each individual based on factors that influence home safety and sensitivity to culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of home safety issues can increase cultural competence and inform practice and policy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld. 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma Jean
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Merrill June
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turpin
mesh_terms: D054521:Cultural Competency; D037001:Directive Counseling; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012449:Safety