Experiences of occupational therapy among first generation immigrant women with physical dysfunctions

Sammanfattning: Background: As the conflict crisis in the Middle East and West Asia has elevated, simultaneously has Sweden seen a higher level of immigration. Among these groups of people are women who are both physically and emotionally affected. Integrating their old cultural values into the new cultural values often creates problems. However, at present there are not many studies showing how these women experience occupational therapy. Thus, I wanted to investigate these first generation immigrant women’s experiences regarding occupational therapy. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate how first generation immigrant women with physical dysfunctions experience occupational therapy. Method: A qualitative study was conducted with three participants from the Middle East using semi structured interviews. Content analysis was used in analyzing the interviews in order to get the manifest meaning. Result: The result showed two themes: “Knowledge about occupational therapy” and “Trust and confidence in the therapist”. Additionally, five subthemes appeared: Issues related to language, being unfamiliar with occupational therapy in the native country, the interaction between the therapist and the patient, the occupational therapist’s cultural awareness and sensitivity, and the occupational therapist´s intervention and practice. Conclusion: It is necessary that occupational therapists have cultural competency and knowledge about other cultures in order to give the best therapy to immigrant women.