Which of the following is a core value of occupational therapy?

• A. Ambition
• B. Efficiency
• C. Prudence
• D. Courage

Answer: (C)

Occupational therapy relies on a defined set of core values that guide how practitioners make decisions and interact with clients. Prudence is the core value that captures the ability to exercise careful, sound judgment in clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making. It means weighing risks and benefits, staying within evidence-based practice, safeguarding safety, and using resources wisely to serve the client’s best interests. This is why prudence is the correct choice: it directly reflects professional judgment and ethical practice that underpins every OT intervention. Ambition focuses on personal goals rather than professional behavior; efficiency emphasizes productivity; courage is a virtue but not listed as a formal core value in most OT frameworks.