Exploring multicultural competencies of occupational therapists: implications for education and training

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the influence of demographic and educational variables on self-reported multicultural competencies of occupational therapists. A sample of 94 occupational therapists currently working in the field participated in this investigation. Multicultural course work, seminars and workshops, percentage of minority patients worked with, and highest degree held were found to correlate significantly with self-reported multicultural competencies. Regression analyses found that highest degree held, percentage of minority patients worked with, multicultural course work, and participation in multicultural seminars and workshops accounted for about half of the variance in multicultural awareness. These findings are discussed in terms of academic courses and continued professional training and education for occupational therapists.