How does a client's culture and cultural background play a role in the OT field?

When some people hear the word culture, they may think of religion, rituals, or morals. Although that is apart of culture, there is so much more to it. Culture is a term that describes an individual's beliefs, values, assumptions, habits, norms, and customs in a specific group or society (Hammell, 2013). Culture is a mirror of our community. Therefore, making it an important factor on how our community proceeds and grows as a whole. It's also important for individuals. Culture is a defining characteristic of our identity. It is a way of life.

Culture affects our daily occupations and routines. This is important, especially in occupational therapy. It has an influence on our values, goals, performance, roles, etc. (Hammell, 2013). Culture also molds the way we work, play, interact, etc. It makes a distinction in how we view one another (2020). An example of my personal culture could be my values (healthy relationships, generosity, altruism, etc.), and rituals ( visiting my grandmothers grave every Sunday). An OT practitioner usually incorporates the clients culture into their interventions and treatment goals. OTs must consider a clients values, and worldviews in their sessions (2020). A personal example of mine would be since drawing/art is apart of my culture, an OT could incorporate that into a session of mine.

Cultural humility is preferred over cultural competence in occupational therapy because it allows a client to share their own experiences, rather than acknowledging how to respond to culture specific traits. It helps facilitate inclusion (Hammell, 2013). This relates to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, in other words, OTPF-4. Culture/cultural background is related to the OTPF-4 because it is part of its domains. Culture is apart of the domains: contexts, performance patterns, and client factors (2020). Personal example: because my belief and spirituality is God, it would fall under the client factors domain.

I like to think of occupational therapy, specifically interventions/treatment goals, as one size doesn't fit all. Everyone has a different culture and come from different cultural backgrounds. It is important to be open in learning someone's identity and culture.

References:

Hammell, K. R. (2013). Occupation, well-being, and culture: Theory and cultural humility / occupation, Bien-être et culture : La Théorie et l’humilité culturelle. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417413500465 

Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process—Fourth edition. (2020). The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Supplement 2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74s2001

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One size does not fit all👆