Applying 'cultural humility' to occupational therapy practice: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Delivery
• Occupational Therapy Practice
• Cross-Cultural Interactions

Background:

• Cultural humility is crucial for effective healthcare delivery and recognizing power dynamics.
• Existing research on cultural humility in healthcare is broad, but specific applications in occupational therapy (OT) are underexplored.
• Knowledge gaps hinder the integration of cultural humility into OT practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the literature on cultural humility, including its concepts, definitions, and practice recommendations.
• To map the identified literature onto occupational therapy practice using the Canadian Practice Process Framework (CPPF).
• To consult with occupational therapists and clients to validate the mapping and develop practical recommendations for cultural humility in OT.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of multiple health and social science databases will be conducted.
• Literature screening and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers.
• Inductive thematic synthesis and deductive coding using the CPPF will analyze the data, followed by expert consultation.

Main Results:

• The review will detail the extent and nature of published literature on cultural humility.
• Findings will be mapped to the CPPF to illustrate relevance to OT practice.
• Consultation will refine the mapping and generate actionable recommendations.

Conclusions:

• This review will enhance the understanding of cultural humility within occupational therapy.
• Findings are expected to improve cross-cultural communication and encounters between therapists and clients.
• The study aims to ultimately improve patient care outcomes through better-integrated cultural humility.