Importance of Culture in Occupational Therapy

    In the article, Occupation, well-being, and Culture: Theory and Cultural Humility by Karen Hammell, culture is described as the “knowledge, beliefs, values, assumptions, perspectives, attitudes, norms, and customs that people acquire through membership in a particular society or group” (Hammell, 2009a).  A person’s culture affects the way they view the world, the way they view their own body, mind, and spirit, and in turn the occupations that they find fulfilling in their daily lives. One example of culture I can identify in my own life is the importance of independence; an occupation that reflects this value is driving.

    When working with a client, an Occupational Therapist will make inquiries to determine the important and meaningful roles in their client’s life. A person’s roles are often determined by the “sets of behaviors expected by society and shaped by culture and context that may be further conceptualized and defined by the client” (OTPF, p 82). The client’s culture forms their roles which are at the root of the occupations, activities, and routines that they perform. As an Occupational Therapist, it is important to gain knowledge of the factors influenced by a client’s culture so that we can provide realistic and relevant interventions that are attuned to the client’s beliefs. As a volunteer at an adult daycare, I observed the lack of attendance to a client’s religious beliefs when we played a game that involved betting, which resulted in the client’s refusal to play the game that was intended to assist his fine motor and cognitive skills. During this experience, I quickly learned how important it is for practitioners to be diligent when creating intervention plans for clients. 

    Over the years, Occupational Therapists have gravitated toward being culturally humble, instead of culturally competent. This is because of the importance of considering one’s own self as a factor in the interactions we have with others. If we practice cultural humility, we are not only working on respecting other’s cultural differences, but we are avoiding making assumptions about other cultures by realizing that our own beliefs may limit our perspectives. An example of this in my life was when a friend of mine had a sister who was a resident of Mexico and was looking to find cancer treatment in the United States. My friend asked me to reach out to the doctors I knew to see if we could find any resources that could qualify her to come into the country for cancer treatment. The physician that I discussed this situation with quickly suggested she should come over the border illegally and go to an emergency room. My friend and her sister discussed this idea, but did not feel that it was the right thing to do because of her family’s urge to find treatment by going through the correct chain of command. The assumption that it would be an easy decision to travel over the border without proper allowance shows that the physician did not consider the cultural beliefs of the individual and made an assumption based on his perspectives of Mexican values.

    Through reading the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and Occupation, well-being, and Culture: Theory and Cultural Humility, I have learned to value openness and thoughtfulness toward others. I hope that we as Occupational Therapists can make it a part of our culture to be cognizant and respectful of the beliefs of others. Our profession will continue to frow as we become more inclusive in our practice and tailor our interventions to support our clients and the many cultures that are a part of who they are.