Making a Cup of Tea as Part of a Culturally Sensitive Service

Cultural variation is an aspect of practice which may be neglected by therapists when assessing functional activities. A study was undertaken in which 15 people from a variety of cultural backgrounds were observed carrying out the activity of making a cup of tea. The results demonstrated that there were differences in the methods used between cultures, within cultures and between generations. If interventions by therapists are to be effective, it is imperative that assessments are culturally sensitive and that each client is treated as a unique individual. Occupational therapy departments, where making a cup of tea or making a hot drink is a routine part of client assessment, should review practice to allow for cultural variation.