DEVELOPING CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE.pdf

...

1. DEVELOPING CULTURAL
COMPETENCE IN PHYSICAL
THERAPY PRACTICE
Presented By: GROUP 8
Presented To: Dr. YASEERA
Department: Doctor of PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT-3)

2. GROUP MEMBERS ROLL NO.
MIRUB FATIMA 34120
TEHREEM TAHIR 33499
AYZA KALIM 33402
SAWERA SARWAR 31999
AMMARA ARSHAD 33533
KASHAN ALI 34514
GROUP INTRODUCTION

3. 1- UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL COMPETENCE
-CONCEPT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE:
•Cultural competence is an important part of professional ethics in
physical therapy.
•It means being able to understand and respect people from different
cultures, religions, and backgrounds.
•Every patient is unique — their values, beliefs, and traditions can
affect how they see illness, pain, and recovery.
•A good physical therapist must treat all patients with respect and
fairness.

4. -What is Cultural Competence?
•Cultural competence means being able to work well with people
from different cultures.
•It is about learning, understanding, and adapting your behavior to
meet the needs of each patient.
•It includes:
•Awareness of differences
•Knowledge about other cultures
•Skills to communicate and treat respectfully
•Example:
If a patient prefers a same-gender therapist for religious reasons, a
culturally competent PT will understand and respect this.

5. -Importance in Ethics:
•It helps PTs follow ethical values like respect, honesty, and equality.
•Builds trust between therapist and patient.
•Reduces misunderstandings or discomfort.
•Improves treatment success and patient satisfaction.
•Example:
If a therapist ignores a patient’s beliefs, the patient may feel disrespected and stop coming
for therapy.
•Cultural Awareness
•Cultural Knowledge
•Cultural Skill
•Cultural Encounters
•Desire
-Main Parts:

6. -Cultural Competence and Professional Ethics:
•Ethical Value
•Respect
•Justice (Fairness)
•Beneficence
•Autonomy
•Non-Maleficence
-Example in Physical Therapy:
•Language: Use a translator for a patient who doesn’t speak your language.
•Religious Beliefs: Allow Muslim patients to pray before treatment.
•Gender Preference: Assign a same-gender therapist if needed.
•Clothing or Modesty: Respect when patients prefer to keep covered during therapy.
•Family Role: In some cultures, family makes health decisions — involve them respectfully.

7. -How to Develop Cultural Competence:
•Learn about other cultures.
•Be polite and open-minded.
•Avoid judging or stereotyping.
•Ask questions if unsure — respectfully.
•Reflect on your own behavior after each session.
•Show kindness, empathy, and patience.
-Benefits of Being Culturally Competent:
•Builds trust with patients
•Improves communication
•Increases treatment success
•Promotes ethical and fair care
•Creates a positive professional image

8. 2- CULTURAL AWARENESS AND
SELF-REFLECTION
•Cultural awareness means recognizing differences in beliefs
and practices.
• It helps therapists understand patient expectations and
preferences.
• Being culturally aware improves patient comfort and
cooperation.
-Role of Cultural Awareness in Physical Therapy:

9. -Understanding Self-Reflection:
•Self-reflection is the process of analyzing personal
thoughts and actions.
•It helps therapists identify their own cultural biases.
•This process leads to more respectful and effective
care.

10. -Impact on Patient-Therapist Relationship:
• Cultural awareness builds trust between therapist and patient.
• Patients are more likely to follow treatment plans if they feel
respected.
• It improves communication and reduces misunderstandings.

11. -Clinical Importance of Self-Reflection:
•Self-reflection helps therapists adjust treatment approaches.
• It promotes ethical decision-making in diverse patient populations.
• Reflective practice enhances cultural sensitivity and competence.
-Application in Real Clinical Practice
• Therapists adapt their communication according to
patient’s culture.
• Treatment plans are modified based on cultural beliefs
and preferences.
• Cultural awareness contributes to better treatment
outcomes

12. 3- CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Cultural knowledge involves understanding how cultural factors
influence health, illness, and healthcare behaviors. It requires
both self-awareness and awareness of others.
-Cultural Knowledge:

13. -Understanding Cultural Concepts:
•Culture: Shared values, beliefs, and behaviors of a group.
•Cultural competence: The ability to work effectively across cultures.
•Cultural humility: Lifelong commitment to self-reflection and
learning from patients.
•Health disparities: Recognizing systemic inequities that affect
access and outcomes.

14. -Areas of Knowledge for PTs:
•Health Beliefs and Practices
•How different cultures view illness, pain, disability, and rehabilitation.
•Understanding alternative healing systems (e.g., traditional medicine, faith
healing).
•Communication Styles
•Verbal and non-verbal communication norms (eye contact, touch,
personal space).
•Language barriers and the importance of professional interpreters.

15. •Family decision-making models (individual vs. collective).
•Family and Community Roles
•Respect for elders or religious leaders in care decisions.
•Socioeconomic and Historical Contexts
•Effects of poverty, immigration, or discrimination on health.
•Historical mistrust of healthcare institutions among some
communities.
•Cultural Views of Disability and Pain
•Some cultures may stigmatize disability or view pain as spiritual.
•Understanding patient attitudes toward assistive devices or
therapy exercises.

16. -Cultural Skills:
•Communication and Assessment
•Individualized Care Planning
•Self Reflection and Bias Management
•Advocacy and Collaboration

17. 4- BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES IN
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN PHYSIOTHERAPY
• Lack of awareness about professional ethics
• Workload and time constraints
• Pressure from employers or colleagues
• Patient expectations and demands
• Cultural and personal biases
-Barriers:

18. -Challenges:
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Establishing and maintaining professional boundaries
• Obtaining informed consent
• Managing conflicts of interest
• Dealing with unprofessional behavior

19. -Consequences:
• Compromised patient care
• Damage to professional reputation
• Loss of trust
• Disciplinary action

20. -Solutions:
• Education and training on professional ethics
• Clear policies and guidelines
• Support from colleagues and mentors
• Regular reflection and self-assessment

21. -Conclusion:
• Professional ethics is essential in physiotherapy
• Barriers and challenges exist, but can be overcome
• Prioritizing ethics is crucial for quality patient care and
professional integrity.

22. 5- DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING
CULTURAL COMPETENCE
•Self-reflection: Identify your biases and
assumptions.
•Education: Learn about different cultures,
histories, and power dynamics.
•Exposure: Engage with diverse communities.
•Empathy: Listen actively and suspend judgment.
•Activity idea: Ask the audience to reflect on a
time they experienced cultural misunderstanding.
-Developing Cultural Competence:

23. -Sustaining Cultural Competence:
•Commit to lifelong learning.
•Institutional support – policies, training, and leadership
buy-in.
•Encourage open dialogue and feedback.
•Evaluate and adapt practices regularly.
•Talking Point: Sustaining competence requires
organizational and individual effort.

24. -CHALLENGES:
•Implicit bias
•Resistance to change
•Tokenism
•Lack of institutional support
•Ongoing training and mentorship
•Inclusive leadership
•Building accountability structures
•Visual idea: Problem–solution chart.
-SOLUTIONS:

25. -Best Practices:
•Create safe spaces for dialogue.
•Integrate cultural competence into curriculum / workplace policy.
•Celebrate cultural diversity regularly.
•Use inclusive language and materials.
A school that integrates multicultural education into lessons.
Example:

26. 6- REAL LIFE EXAMPLE:
•Patient: Mrs. Laila, a 45-year-old woman who recently immigrated
from Pakistan.
•Condition: Post-operative rehabilitation following knee
replacement surgery.
•Cultural Context:
1.Muslim wears modest clothing (long sleeves, headscarf).
2.Prefers limited physical contact with male healthcare providers.
3.Speaks limited English — her daughter often helps translate.

27. -Initial Challenge:
•When Mrs. Laila first arrived for therapy, the clinic assigned her to
a male physical therapist. During the evaluation:
•She appeared uncomfortable during physical assessments
involving close contact.
•Communication was difficult — she hesitated to speak, avoided
eye contact, and answered briefly.
•She attended only one session and then missed her next two
appointments.
•The therapist realized that cultural and communication barriers
might be affecting her participation.

28. -Culturally Competent Approach:
The clinic took several steps to improve her care:
1. Cultural Awareness:
The therapist reflected on his own assumptions and
recognized that gender norms and modesty were important
in Mrs. Laila’s culture.
2. Cultural Knowledge:
He learned about Islamic practices related to modesty,
family involvement, and communication preferences.

29. 3. Cultural Skills:
•The clinic reassigned Mrs. Laila to a female physical therapist at her request.
•The therapist arranged for a professional interpreter rather than relying solely
on family.
•Exercises were modified so she could perform them comfortably while
maintaining modest clothing.
4. Cultural Encounter:
•Over time, through respectful communication and flexibility, Mrs. Laila began
to open up.
•She shared her concerns about pain and her daily prayers, which required
kneeling — allowing the therapist to tailor her treatment accordingly.
5. Cultural Desire:
•The therapist showed genuine interest in understanding Mrs. Laila’s
needs and cultural values, not just her diagnosis.

30. -Outcome:
•Mrs. Laila became more engaged and consistent with her therapy sessions.
•Her range of motion and strength improved significantly.
•She expressed deep appreciation for the therapist’s respect for her cultural
and personal preferences.
•The clinic used this case to implement new guidelines for culturally sensitive
care for all patients.
-Key Takeaways:
•Cultural competence leads to better communication, trust, and adherence.
•Understanding cultural values (like modesty, family involvement, or
communication style) can directly improve outcomes.
•Cultural competence is not about knowing every culture — it’s about
respect, curiosity, and adaptability.