Cultural awareness among Queensland undergraduate occupational therapy students

Abstract

Aim: Australia's cultural diversity generates substantial challenges and implications for students and health-care professionals. This study investigated the cultural perceptions and self-rated level of cultural competence of undergraduate occupational therapy students in Queensland, Australia. Results: Two hundred and ninety-three students completed the Cultural Awareness Questionnaire. The findings indicated that the majority of students have a positive attitude towards cultural differences and influences on occupational therapy services. Students also recognised the importance of cultural awareness and highlighted the need for increased incorporation of cultural information and experience throughout the undergraduate course. Conclusion: The implications of this study are discussed with reference to the future academic planning of culturally sensitive occupational therapy course and fieldwork experiences.

The Impact of Classroom Instruction on Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity in Occupational Therapy Students

“…Culture is viewed as a broad concept and used as an inclusive term with no single, widely accepted definition in the literature (Rasmussen et al, 2005;Whiteford & St-Clair, 2002). The concept of culture is learned, shared, and socially constructed (Cheung, Shah, & Muncer, 2002;Humbert et al, 2012;Rasmussen et al, 2005).…”

“…Culture is viewed as a broad concept and used as an inclusive term with no single, widely accepted definition in the literature (Rasmussen et al, 2005;Whiteford & St-Clair, 2002). The concept of culture is learned, shared, and socially constructed (Cheung, Shah, & Muncer, 2002;Humbert et al, 2012;Rasmussen et al, 2005). These learned and shared patterns include values, beliefs, customs, perceptions, history, politics, attitudes, lifestyles, emotions, and behaviors (Cheung et al, 2002;Humbert et al, 2012;Rasmussen et al, 2005).…”

“…The concept of culture is learned, shared, and socially constructed (Cheung, Shah, & Muncer, 2002;Humbert et al, 2012;Rasmussen et al, 2005). These learned and shared patterns include values, beliefs, customs, perceptions, history, politics, attitudes, lifestyles, emotions, and behaviors (Cheung et al, 2002;Humbert et al, 2012;Rasmussen et al, 2005). It is important to understand that these patterns of learned behavior are shared by members of a group, not an individual, and are not biological in nature (MacDonald, 1998).…”

“…Cultural awareness and the development of cultural competency is vital to effective occupational therapy practice and providing services to these diverse populations (Kale & Hong, 2007;Mu, Coppard, Bracciano, Doll, & Matthews, 2010). Occupational therapy practitioners must be aware of and respond to cultural differences that influence clients' occupational performance, assessments, and intervention outcomes (Murden et al, 2008;Rasmussen, Lloyd, & Wielandt, 2005). Since culture is an important part of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain & Process (Framework), occupational therapy educators have a duty to prepare future clinicians for culturally diverse clinical encounters (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014).…”

Intercultural Sensitivity and Cross-cultural Adjustment among Malaysian Students Abroad

“…Scholars (examples, Rasmussen, Lloyd & Wielandt, 2005;Shaftel, Shaftel & Ahluwalia, 2007) emphasized sufficient cultural exposure, knowledge, information and experiences facilitating cross-cultural adjustment. In addition, Rasmussen et.…”