GUIDELINE FOR CONDUCTING A FAMILY

CASE STUDY
PREPARED BY
GROUP 1
 PREAMBLE

• A family case study is a tool for determining the health

status of a family through effective assessment and critical
inspection because of this, health-related problems are
identified which gives an indication to the student on how to
intervene just to give holistic care and improve the
deficiency.
• A family case study gives an opportunity to analyze the
family dynamics using different aspects of community and
family care that are usually acquired through a family visit.
The overall purpose of a family case study is to assess the
health status of a family and develop interventions that are
 CON’T
• The student identifies the family to study through a
patient in the Primary Health Care facility and
makes a visit to the home of the patient. This
creates a trusting relationship between the patient
and the health worker, and it also gives the health
worker opportunity to identify other problems in the
family and proffer intervention strategies (Holistic
approach to health).
• Note: The supervisor must ensure the student observe
Community Entry Protocols.
 Cont’

• Conducting a family case study is a means by

which the student reaches and feels the community
through its basic structure – the family.
 FORMAT FOR THE FAMILY CASE STUDY

Preliminary pages
• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Declaration
• Certification
• Dedication
• Acknowledgement
• Table of contents
 Body of the family case study
• Introduction
• Definition of a family, types and functions.
• Relationship between family and community.
• Relationship between community health practitioner and
family
• Broad and specific objectives of the study.
(Maximum 4 pages).

• 
Family structure, characteristics, and dynamics

• This can be presented in a tabular form, the

family structure, characteristics, and dynamics
such as the demographic information of each
family member, outlining their names, age,
sex, civil status, occupation, educational
attainment, position in the family, date, and
place of birth.
 CON’T
• Personal data of the index client
• Name, age, gender, address, place of birth, religion,
occupation, marital status, nationality
• Present medical history of index client (obtain from
the patient’s card)
 Literature review

• This should be on diagnosed case- general

overview, causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis ,
management, complication, prevention.
• Family Medical History
• This covers history of family medical conditions
such as genetic diseases (sickle cell), life style
disease (diabetes, hypertension), family planning,
immunization.
 Family coping index
• Physical independence, therapeutic competence,
knowledge of health conditions, applications of principles
of general hygiene, health attitude, emotional competence,
family living, physical environment, and use of community
facilities.
• Socio-economic and cultural characteristics of
family
• Description of the family with regard to the socio-economic
status of each member, religion, involvement in the
community’s activities (Fiesta, carnival, town hall
meetings)
 Home and Environment
• Description of the house, appliances, wastes disposal
system, kitchen utensils, toilet facilities, sources of water
supply , drainage system, use of long lasting insecticide
treated nets (LLIN).
• Social amenities
• Water facilities, health facilities, road network, source of
power supply, markets, schools, churches, mosques, etc
• Health assessment of each family member
• Past and present illness.
 Family assessment based on functional health
patterns,
• Health perception, disease causation (belief
system), health management pattern, Nutritional
metabolic pattern,food security, elimination pattern,
activity exercise pattern, sleep-rest pattern,
cognitive perceptual pattern, self-perception/self-
concept, role and relationships, sexual reproductive
life, coping stress, value and belief pattern, Values,
habits, practice on health promotion, maintenance
and disease prevention.
• Health Problems identified (ie. Physical, mental,
social etc)
• Intervention
• (intervention provided on each identified problem)
• Evaluation (After 2wks of providing intervention).
• Summary/conclusion
• Recommendations
• References (American Psychological Association)
• Note: Effective implementation of family case study by the
student will depend on proper monitoring and supervision
by the supervisor.
 • Any:
• Question?
• Comments/Contribution

Thank you for listening.