Circle 20240427 153106 0000

THE
FAMILY
CIRCLE
Presentation by Group 3
Year 2, Family medicine
Table of
CONTENTS
01 02 03 04 05
Introduction Definition Brief history Perculiarities Applications
06 07 08 09 10
Benefits Limitations Comparisons Innovation Case study
INTRODUCTION
Understanding Family Accessment Tools: The Family Circle
• The health and well-being of an individual is also influenced by their families,

relationships, and the environment in which they live.
• Family Accessment Tools are systematic methods used by family physicians to
understand the dynamics of families and their impact on a patient's illness, as
well as the patient's role within the family in the context of family-centered health
care.
• One of the tools that specifically focuses on understanding and addressing the
functional roles of family members is The Family Circle Technique.
DEFINITION OF FAMILY CIRCLE
The Family Circle is a visual representation of the family
system, providing insights into the family dynamics and their
influence on an individual’s health. As a core aspect of family-
centered care, it underscores the interconnectedness between
individual health and family well-being, whether functional or
dysfunctional. By recognizing the family as a unit, healthcare
professionals can better comprehend the context in which health
issues arise and tailor interventions accordingly.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FAMILY
CIRCLE METHOD
Pictoral and symbolic representations of family dynamics have
been used in family therapy for several years. Mostwin D. used circles
within circles to represent family members in family therapy.
In 1997, Susan M. Thrower developed a family circle method
based on these antecedents. The development of this method and it's
applications have been heavily influenced by the family system theory as
taught by major theorists (Bowen, Satire, Minuchin, and others).
PERCULIARITIES OF FAMILY CIRCLE
The Family circle was primarily developed and

01 used by family physicians, but it is not limited to
family medicine.
It can be a valuable tool in any setting where

understanding the influences of the family 02
are needed in providing effective care and treatment.
Healthcare professionals such as psychologists,

pediatricians and social workers also benefit from the
03
use of family circle.
APPLICATION OF FAMILY CIRCLE
HOW TO DRAW THE FAMILY CIRCLE
• A Family physician draws a large circle on a piece of paper or black
board.
• The circle represents the family unit.
• The patient draws smaller circles inside the larger circle to represent
each family member.
• Each circle is labelled with a family member's name.
• Eash circle is connected with lines to represent relationships, using
thicker lines for close relationships and thinner lines for distant
relationships.
• Around each family member's name, functional roles can be written
down.
• This method allows the physician to visualize the structure of the
family and gain insight into the dynamics of the family.
HOW TO DRAW THE FAMILY CIRCLE
INSIGHTS FROM THE FAMILY CIRCLE
• Observing the thickness and number of lines connecting different circles
that reveal the relative strength of relationships within the family.
• If certain members are not connected by lines or have very few lines, it
could indicate strained or distant relationships.
• Observing the location of circles relative to each other can provide
views about power dynamics or unspoken tensions within the family.
• The insights gained from this method, provides a foundation for further
investigation by exploring how these factors interact and influence each
other. The doctor can gain a deeper understanding of the patient's health.
PURPOSE OF FAMILY CIRCLE
01 02 03 04
It provides a comprehensive It helps family It recognizes family It facilitates the
view of the family system that physicians identify members as active development of
includes relationships, roles, factors that may be members in the health personalized, family-
and interactions among family contributing to health care decision making centered treatment plans
members. issues or affecting process. that address the unique
treatment effectiveness. needs of patients and their
families.
BENEFITS OF FAMILY CIRCLE
• Improved Communication: It method encourages family members to talk openly and honestly
about their relationships, roles, and dynamics, which can lead to better communication and
understanding.
• Enhanced Diagnosis: The insights gained from the Family Circle helps family physicians diagnose
and treat health issues more effectively by considering factors beyond individual symptoms.
• Family-Centered Care: By engaging family members in the decision-making process, the Family
Circle promotes a more patient-centered approach to care. This can help families feel more
empowered and involved in their healthcare.
• Adaptability to Changing Dynamics : The Family Circle is highly adaptable to changing family
dynamics. It offers a framework for understanding and addressing a wide range of changes,
including new family structures, new members, and coping with loss. This enables the Family
Circle to remain relevant and useful for families in various circumstances.
LIMITATIONS OF FAMILY CIRCLE USAGE
Time Constraints: The Family Circle method can be time-consuming and may not be feasible in
settings with high patient volumes or limited appointment times.
•
• Resistance to Participation: Some family members may be resistant to participating in the
Family Circle assessment due to privacy concerns, cultural norms, or other reasons.
•
• Interpretation Bias: Physicians may interpret Family Circles based on their own cultural
assumptions, leading to biases and potential misdiagnoses.
•
• Simplification of Complex Systems: The Family Circle method is a useful tool, but it can
simplify complex family systems and relationships. It may not capture the full depth and
nuance of family dynamics.
•
• Reliance on Self-Report: The information gathered in the Family Circle is based on self-
report, which can be subject to recall bias and other inaccuracies.
COMPARISONS BETWEEN FAMILY CIRCLE AND OTHER
ACCESSMENT TOOLS :
SIMILARITIES
• They focus on family dynamics.
• They identify the strengths and weaknesses of a family.
• They encourage collaboration between health care professionals and
families.
• They can adapt to different family structures.
• They are useful in diverse disciplines.
COMPARISONS BETWEEN FAMILY CIRCLE AND OTHER ACCESSMENT
TOOLS : DIFFERENCES
• Family Circle vs. Family Genogram: While both tools map out family relationships, the Family Circle is
more focused on the immediate roles and relationships within the current family unit, while the Family
Genogram takes a more historical and multi-generational approach.
• Family Circle vs. Family APGAR: The Family APGAR is a questionnaire-based tool that evaluates
family functioning in terms of cohesion and communication, while the Family Circle provides a
diagrammatic representation of the roles and relationships within the family unit.
• Family Circle vs. SCREEM: The SCREEM tool assesses broader social, cultural, economic, and
environmental factors, while the Family Circle focuses on family functioning within the immediate
family unit.
• Family Circle vs. Family Life Cycle: The Family Life Cycle examines the developmental stages a family
goes through over time, while the Family Circle focuses on the immediate functioning of the family unit,
providing a snapshot of current roles and relationships.
INNOVATIONS
Data Analytics: Advanced data analytics enables Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-driven solutions
healthcare providers to analyze family health data, like virtual health assistants and predictive
identifying risk factors and customizing interventions, analytics provide personalized support to
ultimately enhancing care delivery and health families, aiding in medication management and
outcomes for families. optimizing care delivery.
Accessment: Recognizing the need for a holistic approach,
CASE STUDY 01 the physician decided to utilize the Family Circle method
to gain deeper insights into the patient's family dynamics in
a counselling session.
Clinical Case: Patient A, a 35-year-old Observations: The assessment showed the patient's family
02
woman, presented to her family was unaware of her condition's severity, and she was the
primary caregiver for her elderly parent, causing significant
physician's office with increasing fatigue
stress.
and difficulty managing her chronic health
issues. Despite several attempts at
individualized treatment plans, the Treatment Plan Development: The physician created a
family-centered treatment plan to address the patient's
patient's condition showed little
improvement over time.
03 physical symptoms and underlying stressors, involving
educating the family and coordinating community services.,
Continual Follow-ups: Regular follow-ups were scheduled

post-Family Circle assessment. The husband delegated tasks
04 and hired a caregiver, providing more emotional support to his
wife.
CONCLUSION
• In essence, the Family Circle is both a visual

tool for understanding the family system and a
process for promoting better communication and
cooperation among family members. It's primary
focus is to improve on the family's structure and
functioning for the benefit of all involved.
• As the family is a critical unit in health and
wellbeing, the Family Circle has the potential to
not only enhance individual health but also
promote community well-being.
REFERENCES
[1] Thrower SM, Bruce WE, Walton RF. The family circle method
for integrating family systems concepts in family medicine. J Fam
Pract. 1982 Sep;15(3):451-7. PMID: 7108459.
(https://cdn.mdedge.com/files/s3fs-public/jfp-archived-issues/1982
-volume_14-15/JFP_1982-09_v15_i3_the-family-circle-method-
for-integrating.pdf)
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

Circle 20240427 153106 0000

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Circle 20240427 153106 0000

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Circle 20240427 153106 0000

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE

• The health and well-being of an individual is also influenced by their families,

The Family circle was primarily developed and

It can be a valuable tool in any setting where

Healthcare professionals such as psychologists,

Continual Follow-ups: Regular follow-ups were scheduled

• In essence, the Family Circle is both a visual

You might also like