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The Challenge of Cultural Competency in the Multicultural 21st Century: A Conceptual Model to Guide Occupational Therapy Practice

Darawsheh, Wesam ; Chard, Gill and Eklund, Mona LU orcid (2015) In Open Journal of Occupational Therapy 3(2).
Abstract
Background: Occupational therapists increasingly encounter clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and need to meet their professional obligation of delivering culturally competent practice. Yet the process of cultural competency is poorly understood in occupational therapy practice. There is a need for a clear understanding of the meaning and process of cultural competency as it is enacted in practice with a wide range of individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Aim: To investigate the process, stages, characteristics, and requirements of cultural competency as practiced by experienced occupational therapists.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 community occupational therapists... (More)
Background: Occupational therapists increasingly encounter clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and need to meet their professional obligation of delivering culturally competent practice. Yet the process of cultural competency is poorly understood in occupational therapy practice. There is a need for a clear understanding of the meaning and process of cultural competency as it is enacted in practice with a wide range of individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Aim: To investigate the process, stages, characteristics, and requirements of cultural competency as practiced by experienced occupational therapists.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 community occupational therapists experienced in delivering occupational therapy services in clients’ homes in a culturally diverse area in London, England.

Findings: Interview data were analyzed and ordered into the format of a conceptual process model where cultural competency formed the core concept. The model of cultural competency that emerged from this study comprised six stages: cultural awareness, cultural preparedness, a cultural picture of the person, cultural responsiveness, cultural readiness, and cultural competence.

Conclusion: Cultural competency is a complex process that needs to be based on underpinning occupational theory and actualized at the level of practice. Further research is needed to test out the model and illuminate the process of cultural competency in different areas of occupational therapy practice. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
volume
3
issue
2
article number
5
publisher
Western Michigan University
ISSN
2168-6408
DOI
10.15453/2168-6408.1147
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
26b11058-9235-460c-9ff0-f0319deeb7f2
date added to LUP
2019-06-11 23:02:41
date last changed
2020-04-22 15:15:13
@article{26b11058-9235-460c-9ff0-f0319deeb7f2,
  abstract     = {{Background: Occupational therapists increasingly encounter clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and need to meet their professional obligation of delivering culturally competent practice. Yet the process of cultural competency is poorly understood in occupational therapy practice. There is a need for a clear understanding of the meaning and process of cultural competency as it is enacted in practice with a wide range of individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.<br/><br/>Aim: To investigate the process, stages, characteristics, and requirements of cultural competency as practiced by experienced occupational therapists.<br/><br/>Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 community occupational therapists experienced in delivering occupational therapy services in clients’ homes in a culturally diverse area in London, England.<br/><br/>Findings: Interview data were analyzed and ordered into the format of a conceptual process model where cultural competency formed the core concept. The model of cultural competency that emerged from this study comprised six stages: cultural awareness, cultural preparedness, a cultural picture of the person, cultural responsiveness, cultural readiness, and cultural competence.<br/><br/>Conclusion: Cultural competency is a complex process that needs to be based on underpinning occupational theory and actualized at the level of practice. Further research is needed to test out the model and illuminate the process of cultural competency in different areas of occupational therapy practice.}},
  author       = {{Darawsheh, Wesam and Chard, Gill and Eklund, Mona}},
  issn         = {{2168-6408}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{2}},
  publisher    = {{Western Michigan University}},
  series       = {{Open Journal of Occupational Therapy}},
  title        = {{The Challenge of Cultural Competency in the Multicultural 21st Century: A Conceptual  Model to Guide Occupational Therapy Practice}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1147}},
  doi          = {{10.15453/2168-6408.1147}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}