title: Innovative practice: exploring acculturation theory to advance rehabilitation from pediatric to adult "cultures" of care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This perspective paper explores the application of acculturation and the inherent concepts and ideas associated with this theory in rehabilitation to provide a framework for interpreting patient circumstances, responses and behaviours as they move from one culture to the next. Traditionally acculturation theory has been use to examine changes in culture in an ethnic or country sense, however, this paper is among the first to apply acculturation theory to the rehabilitation service cultures from pediatric to adult care for youth with chronic health conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this paper are threefold: (1) to critically appraise key literature in the development of acculturation theory, (2) to discuss how acculturation theory can be applied in rehabilitation practice through a clinical vignette, and finally (3) to discuss how acculturation theory can advance rehabilitation by enhancing client-centered practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acculturation theory can provide insight into how patients are experiencing a change in health care "cultures", in the context of their overarching life circumstances. This, coming from a broader societal perspective can in turn inform an optimal approach to client-centered practice, and the application of rehabilitation-specific team inputs. This theoretical framework can heighten practitioners' awareness of patients' unique worldviews related to their expectations for care and treatment thus reducing fear of diversity to establish positive partnerships between patients and clinicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An understanding of patients' acculturation processes will add new insight into how we can best deliver services and supports to optimise health, opportunities and experiences for youth with chronic conditions.
authors: School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University , Hamilton, ON , Canada and.
authors: Tram
authors: T
authors: Nguyen
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Baptiste
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D006801:Humans; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011582:Psychological Theory; D060305:Transition to Adult Care
keywords: Acculturation; adolescent; culture; enculturation; transition