May 6 - 8, 2002
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Providing Culturally Competent Disability Services
to Persons Born in other Countries May 6 - 8, 2002 |
Effects on international volunteer work on provision of culturally competent physical therapy services
Dunleavy, K.; Kay, E.
Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan USA
kimdun@aol.com
Abstract
International volunteer work provides opportunities for health care providers to develop an understanding of specific cultures and the unique manifestations of culture on provision of services. The immersion into another culture as an outsider also provid es a personal experience of the psychosocial impact of not being part of the predominant culture. This presentation will discuss the impact of short-term international volunteer efforts on the knowledge, attitudes and practices used with rehabilitation cl ients on return to the United States. Methods of interaction and physical therapy management specific to certain cultures, (South Africa, Vietnam, El Salvador, Bhutan, Surinam), as well as general views, will be discussed.