“The Effects of Culture and Gender on Occupational Therapy Practice for Adults: From Palestinian Therapists’ Perspective”

Abstract

As the occupational therapy profession is rooted in Western ideals, it may encounter complexities in culturally traditional settings like Palestine, especially for adults. This study reveals the challenges faced by occupational therapists in Palestine. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used, interviewing six experienced female therapists using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling ensured a diverse participant selection. Thematic analysis revealed several key themes, such as the continuous adaptation to Western practices to fit the Palestinian context, the value of interdependence, and the unique life balance. Results show that cultural and gender norms significantly shape occupational therapy practices in Palestine. The discussion emphasizes the theoretical necessity for cultural sensitivity in occupational therapy, advocating alignment with local values and addressing resource limitations for effective service delivery.

Keywords:

• Adult settings
• cultural characteristics
• gender
• occupational therapy
• palestine
• therapists

Acknowledgment

We express our gratitude to our research colleagues, Hadeel Hammouri, Wafa Awad, and Renad Abu Sada, whose intellectual contributions and support throughout the study were instrumental in securing its success. We sincerely thank the participating therapists for their invaluable time, insightful perspectives, and flexibility in accommodating our research schedule. Finally, we are indebted to Miss Suzanne Vine Daher for her invaluable supervision and mentorship. Her guidance has profoundly affected the quality and direction of this research.

Authors’ contributions

We, the authors, collectively acknowledge the invaluable contributions of all team members to the intellectual fabric of this manuscript. Each author’s ability and dedication were equally sufficient to complete this work. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Data availability statement

The qualitative data utilized to substantiate the findings of this study are subject to restrictions imposed by the Bethlehem University Ethics Committee, ensuring the confidentiality of the participants.

Additional information

Funding

The research presented in this study was conducted without any external funding or financial support.

Notes on contributors

Yousef R. Babish

Yousef Babish, a certified occupational therapist holding a Bachelor of Science degree from Bethlehem University, has completed several graduate-level courses offered by Stanford University and the University of Chicago. He represented Bethlehem University and Palestine at the University of Southern California’s International Summer Occupational Therapy Immersion program. Throughout his undergraduate research journey, he actively held various leadership positions and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Occupational Science at the University of Southern California, USA.

Lama Nammoura

Lama Nammoura, a certified Occupational Therapist working in child development, earned a bachelor’s in occupational therapy from Bethlehem University and held initiatives working for the resource center and students with visual impairment. She has represented Palestine in the Summer Occupational Therapy Immersion Program 2023 at the University of Southern California and guest lectured for the Chan Division. She is working in drama therapy through Giant Puppeteering, where she addresses UNRWA refugees’ needs. She is a member of the Al-Harah Theater in Bethlehem and is currently enrolled in the World Federation of Occupational Therapists “Resettling Climate Migrants” course.

Kareemah Abu-Asabeh

Kareemah Abu-Asabeh is a certified Palestinian occupational therapist with a Bachelor of Science from Bethlehem University. Following graduation, she worked with outpatients in the community who faced challenges accessing the university clinic. Presently, she serves as a clinical supervisor in the Occupational Therapy program at Bethlehem University.