Culturally competent strategies: Evidence and case studies to improve health and occupational participation in the United States

ABSTRACT

There is increasing evidence that culturally competent practices can positively impact paediatric care and improve participation in adult rehabilitation, health care outcomes, and the quality of health care. Occupational therapists in the United States and across the world commonly provide services to racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse individuals and communities. Occupational therapy has long recognised the role culture plays in individual lives and the need for culturally competent practices to promote health, quality of life, and occupational engagement. This article provides strategies and evidence for culturally competent care and best practices when working with diverse and underserved individuals and communities. Case studies illustrate culturally competent assessment and intervention approaches with: (1) children and families in early intervention and habilitation programmes, (2) preventive services for at-risk youth, and (3) adults receiving rehabilitation services.

KEYWORDS:

• Health disparities
• culturally competent practices
• occupational therapy

Acknowledgements

To Pei-Fen Chang, PhD, OTR, School of Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman’s University-Houston Center for her expertise and perspectives on cultural competent care with older adults and to Ashlyn Baxley, occupational therapy graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina for assisting in the editing of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Beverly P. Horowitz http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4510-3578