Current Status of Family-oriented Primary Care: Practice and Education

Abstract

Family issues are common in daily life, and the impact of illness and health on family has been researched in various contexts. In Japan's primary care settings, many patients face family problems. One approach proposed to address these issues is "family-oriented care." Family-oriented care is based on "systems theory" and "family therapy" and involves collaborations between family physicians and family therapists. Although several previous studies have discussed its practice and effectiveness, standardized training programs have yet to be established, leaving each facility to refine its approach through trial and error. Furthermore, limited literature exists on the current state of education in this field, making it difficult to grasp the overall landscape. This review article provides an overview of the current status of family-oriented care practice and education in Japan, compares it with advanced efforts in the U.S., and discusses challenges in standardizing education in Japan. Furthermore, we propose the development of a standardized education model for "Japanese-style family-oriented care," tailored to Japan's unique cultural context, customs, family dynamics, and societal structures.