Understanding family structure and style is essential to patient and family care. Conducting a family interview and needs assessment gathers information to identify strengths, as well as potential barriers to health. This information ultimately helps develop family-centered strategies for support and guidance.

QUESTION

Understanding family structure and style is essential to patient and family care. Conducting a family interview and needs assessment gathers information to identify strengths, as well as potential barriers to health. This information ultimately helps develop family-centered strategies for support and guidance.

This family health assessment is a two-part assignment. The information you gather in this initial assignment will be utilized for the second assignment in Topic 3.

Develop an interview questionnaire to be used in a family-focused functional assessment. The questionnaire must include three open-ended, family-focused questions to assess functional health patterns for each of the following:

1. Values/Health Perception
2. Nutrition
3. Sleep/Rest
4. Elimination
5. Activity/Exercise
6. Cognitive
7. Sensory-Perception
8. Self-Perception
9. Role Relationship
10. Sexuality
11. Coping

Select a family, other than your own, and seek permission from the family to conduct an interview. Utilize the interview questions complied in your interview questionnaire to conduct a family-focused functional assessment. Document the responses as you conduct the interview.

Upon completion of the interview, write a 750-1,000-word paper. Analyze your assessment findings. Submit your questionnaire as an appendix with your assignment.

Include the following in your paper:

1. Describe the family structure. Include individuals and any relevant attributes defining the family composition, race/ethnicity, social class, spirituality, and environment.
2. Summarize the overall health behaviors of the family. Describe the current health of the family.
3. Based on your findings, describe at least two of the functional health pattern strengths noted in the findings. Discuss three areas in which health problems or barriers to health were identified.
4. Describe how family systems theory can be applied to solicit changes in family members that, in turn, initiate positive changes to the overall family functions over time.

Cite at least three peer-reviewed or scholarly sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide

ANSWER

 Family Health Assessment: Understanding Family Structure and Functional Health Patterns

Introduction

Understanding the structure and dynamics of a family is crucial for providing effective patient and family care. Conducting a family interview and needs assessment enables healthcare professionals to identify strengths, barriers to health, and develop family-centered strategies for support and guidance. This paper presents a family-focused functional assessment conducted through an interview questionnaire. The family’s structure, health behaviors, functional health pattern strengths, areas of health problems or barriers, and the application of family systems theory will be analyzed.

Family Structure

The family selected for this assessment consists of a couple, Mark and Sarah, who are in their early 40s, and their two children, Emily (15 years old) and Ethan (12 years old). The family is of Caucasian ethnicity and belongs to the middle-class social stratum. They reside in a suburban neighborhood known for its strong community ties. The family identifies as Christian and actively participates in their local church. The environment is conducive to physical activities, with parks and recreational facilities nearby.

Overall Health Behaviors

The family exhibits a strong focus on health promotion and prevention. They prioritize regular exercise and engage in activities such as biking, hiking, and swimming. Mark and Sarah are mindful of their nutrition and emphasize consuming whole foods and balanced meals. They prioritize sleep and rest, ensuring that each family member gets adequate sleep on most nights. Additionally, the family maintains good hygiene practices and promotes open communication and emotional well-being.

Functional Health Pattern Strengths

 Nutrition: The family’s focus on balanced meals and whole foods indicates a strength in their nutrition pattern. They prioritize the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, promoting overall health and well-being.

Role Relationship: The family demonstrates a strong sense of cohesion and effective communication. Mark and Sarah actively involve their children in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of responsibility and belonging (Rivera et al., 2008). Open dialogue within the family contributes to the development of healthy relationships.

Areas of Health Problems or Barriers

Sleep/Rest: Although the family acknowledges the importance of sleep, they experience occasional difficulty in maintaining consistent sleep routines. Both parents occasionally struggle with sleep disturbances due to work-related stress, impacting their overall restfulness and well-being (El-Sheikh & Kelly, 2017).

 Self-Perception: Emily, the eldest child, shows signs of low self-esteem and negative self-perception. She tends to be overly critical of her appearance and abilities, which may have implications for her emotional and mental well-being.

Coping: The family faces challenges in managing stress effectively. Mark and Sarah often find it challenging to balance work responsibilities and family demands, leading to increased stress levels. These stressors may impact their overall coping mechanisms and resilience.

Application of Family Systems Theory

Family systems theory provides a framework for understanding how individuals function within the context of their family unit. By applying this theory, positive changes in family members can initiate improvements in overall family functions over time. In the case of Mark and Sarah’s family, the following strategies could be employed:

Enhancing Communication: Encouraging open and effective communication within the family can facilitate understanding, support, and problem-solving. Family members can engage in regular family meetings or structured communication exercises to express their needs and concerns.

Strengthening Support Systems: The family can enhance their support system by fostering a sense of community and engaging in activities that encourage social connections. This may involve participating in community events, joining support groups, or seeking guidance from their church community.

 Promoting Self-Care: Mark and Sarah should prioritize self-care activities and stress management techniques to improve their coping mechanisms (Luis et al., 2021). By modeling self-care behaviors, they can positively influence their children’s self-perception and stress management skills.

Conclusion

Conducting a family-focused functional assessment allows healthcare professionals

 to gain valuable insights into a family’s structure, health behaviors, strengths, and areas for improvement. In the case of Mark and Sarah’s family, their strong emphasis on nutrition and role relationships are notable strengths. However, challenges related to sleep/rest, self-perception, and coping require attention. By applying family systems theory and implementing strategies such as enhancing communication, strengthening support systems, and promoting self-care, positive changes can be initiated within family members, leading to improved overall family functioning over time.

References

El-Sheikh, M., & Kelly, R. T. (2017). Family Functioning and Children’s Sleep. Child Development Perspectives, 11(4), 264–269. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12243 

Luis, E. O., Bermejo-Martins, E., Martinez, M., Sarrionandia, A., Cortes, C. L., Oliveros, E. Y., Garcés, M. F., Oron, J. V., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2021). Relationship between self-care activities, stress and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-cultural mediation model. BMJ Open, 11(12), e048469. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048469 

Rivera, F., Guarnaccia, P. J., Mulvaney-Day, N., Lin, J., Torres, M. J., & Alegría, M. (2008). Family Cohesion and Its Relationship to Psychological Distress Among Latino Groups. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 30(3), 357–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986308318713