Chinese Culture and Occupational Therapy

Abstract

A study of the relationship between Chinese culture and occupational therapy is presented in this paper. Based on a literature review and direct observations and analysis by the author, it was found that Chinese culture and occupational therapy share common thinking on the concept of the use of activity, the concept of balance and harmony, the environmental influences in treatment and evaluation, intrinsic motivation and meaningful existence.

The major difference between Chinese culture and occupational therapy is the perception of the role of the sick person. In the Chinese society, the role of the patient is dependent and passive, but occupational therapy believes that the patient should be independent and actively participate in the therapy. The implications of these aspects for clinical practice are also described.

This article is reprinted from the Journal of the Occupational Therapy Association of the Republic of China, 1993, Volume 11, pp 95–104, by kind permission of the author and the Journal.