Culturally Responsive Occupational Therapy Education and Practice: A Scoping Review

Culturally responsive care (CRC) is essential in occupational therapy (OT) to ensure equitable, relevant, and meaningful client engagement. The use of CRC in OT education and practice remains variable. We aimed to map how CRC is defined, implemented, and integrated in OT literature and to identify knowledge gaps. We systematically searched PubMed (NCBI), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus (Elsevier), and PsycINFO (ProQuest) using key terms related to OT and cultural responsiveness. Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, we charted and analysed 53 studies using the Health Standards Organization (HSO) Cultural Safety and Humility Framework. CRC was conceptualized across a spectrum from cultural competence to cultural humility, with strong engagement in community partnerships, especially with Indigenous groups. Although CRC is a recognized priority in OT, its application across training and service delivery remains limited, especially from the global south. Addressing these gaps is essential for equitable and accountable OT practice to maximize client satisfaction.