A Good FA

Cultural Issues

It is important that the assessor understand how a consumer’s culture influences the status and functional description of each domain.   Cultural influences mean historical, geographical, and familial factors that affect assessment and intervention processes. 

Examples of cultural influences relevant to the individual may include:

  • The individual’s racial or ethnic self-identification
  • Experience of cultural bias as a stressor
  • Immigration history and status
  • Level of acculturation
  • Time orientation
  • Social orientation
  • Verbal communication style
  • Locus of control
  • Spiritual beliefs
  • Health beliefs and endorsement of or engagement in culturally specific healing practices

Cultural issues need to be addressed throughout each and every domain. Do not put culture in only one domain as its influence permeates through the consumer’s life and functional assessment domains.

Domain Matrix