“Culture matters”: Nigerian physiotherapists’ perception on cultural considerations in older adults’ mobility care – a qualitative descriptive study

Mobility care is essential, given that mobility is an independent predictor of various health and social outcomes. While multiple factors, including culture, influence the mobility of older adults, there is a lack of understanding of how to incorporate culture into older adults’ mobility assessment, intervention and prevention. To explore the perspectives of Nigerian physiotherapists (PTs) on how culture influences mobility assessment, intervention and prevention among community-dwelling older adults in Nigeria. We employed Sandelowski’s approach to descriptive qualitative method and purposively sampled 29 Nigerian PTs with at least 2 years of clinical experience working with older adults with mobility limitations. Each PT was invited to participate in a single, semi-structured interview, which was audio-recorded and conducted either in-person, <i>via</i> Zoom or telephone, lasting between 45–60 min. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Two overarching themes emerged: Cultural Antecedents and Socially-Informed Cultural Contributors to Mobility Care. Cultural antecedents revealed that patients preferred a PT of the same sex, emphasised the necessity of deep cultural interactions, and highlighted the role of cultural interpreters—rather than language translators—as essential for integrating culture into the mobility care of older adults. Socially-informed cultural contributors included cultural perceptions of pain, the influence of traditional attire on mobility, and stigma around assistive devices. Findings highlight the interplay of cultural values, societal norms and clinical practices in shaping mobility care. This study underscores the importance of integrating cultural competence into physiotherapy education and clinical practice globally.