Understanding the Issue
T/F: Racism can affect health outcomes.
True
What is a health inequity?
An unfair or avoidable difference in health or access to healthcare between groups.
What is occupational injustice?
Unfair or unequal opportunities to participate in meaningful occupations.
T/F: Culturally responsive care means treating every client exactly the same.
False
What is cultural humility?
Recognizing that you don't know everything about another person's culture and being willing to listen, learn, and reflect on your own biases.
What is systemic racism?
Racial inequalities that are embedded in institutional policies, social structures, and everyday interactions.
Name ONE barrier that can contribute to health inequities.
Transportation
Costs
Insurance
Language
Availability of services
What are TWO meaningful occupations that could be affected by systemic inequities.
Education
Employment
Healthcare/health management
Social participation
Leisure
Caregiving
Why is it important to recognize personal biases when working with clients?
Biases can influence how practitioners interpret a client’s behavior, communicate, and make care decisions.
A broken curb ramp is preventing a client from attending therapy. Would this be considered a person or environmental barrier?
Environmental barrier
List at least two ways systemic barriers can affect healthcare.
Limited access to resources
Lower-quality care
Insurance challenges
A family cannot find a provider who accepts their insurance. What type of issue does this demonstrate?
A healthcare access barrier/health inequity.
A community has few accessible recreation spaces, limiting participation for individuals with disabilities. What concept does this illustrate?
Occupational injustice
A client says the recommended home program does not fit their family’s daily routine. What is the best response?
Collaborate with the client and family to understand their priorities and adapt the plan to better fit their routines and circumstances.
Who wrote the quote at the end of the PowerPoint?
James Baldwin
What is the difference between individual racism and systemic racism?
Individual racism occurs between people, while systemic racism is embedded within larger systems, institutions, policies, and practices.
Why isn't simply providing the same healthcare to everyone always equitable?
People have different needs and barriers, so providing the same resources may not give everyone the same opportunity to access or benefit from care.
How can health inequities lead to occupational injustice?
Health inequities can create barriers to resources and opportunities, which can limit a person's ability to participate in meaningful occupations.
Name TWO things an OT should consider when making an intervention culturally responsive.
Client's values, routines, culture, traditions, resources, environment, language, family roles, preferences.
Name TWO ways an OT can promote equitable communication.
Active listening, interpreters, shared decision-making, asking open-ended questions, respecting different perspectives, etc.
Why is systemic racism considered a global health challenge?
Because it can create unequal access to resources and opportunities worldwide, contributing to health inequities and differences in well-being.
What does DEI stand for?
Diversity Equity Inclusion
Why should occupational therapists care about occupational injustice?
Because OT focuses on participation and engagement in meaningful occupations, and barriers created by inequitable systems can prevent people from fully participating in their everyday lives.
You are working with a client whose cultural values and daily routines differ from your own. What should the you do to provide culturally responsive care?
Avoid making assumptions, ask respectful questions about the client’s values and routines, listen to their perspective, and collaborate to create an intervention plan that fits their needs and preferences.
A healthcare team says a client is “noncompliant” because they keep missing appointments. What should you do before making assumptions?
Ask about potential barriers, such as transportation, cost, work, childcare, communication, previous healthcare experiences, or other environmental factors.