The globalisation of health care and health care professional acculturation

Acculturation has been viewed as a collective experience; however it can also be highly individualized, this is particularly evident among health professionals who are part of the health care globalisation phenomenon. This chapter outlines, highlights and discusses the acculturation process and how this impacts both individuals, cultural groups and how it continues to shape migrant health care pro~essionals, particularly in the West. A succinct analysis and discussion highlights that acculturation facilitates trust, cooperation and connections between migrant and local health care professionals while the community remains central to meet the needs of the individual. It also outlines the acculturation process is dependent upon the experiences which an individual encounters in the host community, their shift in behaviour, the acculturative stress and psychopathology they experience which leads to ultimate adaptation.

Also acculturation is dependent upon other aspects such as mobility, voluntariness and permanence; the level of cultural preservation; and the development of new social networks in the workplace and host society.

Lastly, acculturation is also determined by the cultural distance to, social support of and acceptance from the community including the individuals own capacity to acculturate. The discussion will conclude with recommendations for policy, practice and interventions to effectively respond to the acculturation needs of health professionals who migrate to developed countries, particularly rural areas.