Health workers are incomplete until they know how to study a family, even as medical students. Until a health worker has worked in the family, he cannot be satisfied as a competent health worker. the importance of family case study?

Importance of Family Case Study to a Health Worker

A family case study is imperative for health workers to function well in the profession such as:

• It helps the health worker with skills to function effectively in the profession.
• It helps the health worker learn how to gain entrance to homes for professional reasons and functions.
• It helps the health worker render services to the potential families.
• It helps to develop observational skills.
• It helps the health worker learn how to assess families, make appropriate diagnoses, select priorities, and plan, implement, and evaluate care.
• It also helps the health worker master the skill of organizing his work thereby making himself more competent.
• Family case study helps to differentiate between care in health facilities and at homes.
• Family case study equips the health worker to ascertain health problems.
• It gives health workers more opportunities for effective health education to the patient.
• It boasts their confidence in the profession.

How to Write or Carryout Family Case Study

A family case study or case study is carried out or written systematically following a step-by-step approach:

• Select your client: Carefully select the client that will lead you to his/her family comfortably. You can select your client from the hospital, health center, homes, schools, living environment, etc. There must be a problem to solve that will take you to his/her home.
• Consent from client and family: You should find out if it’s convenient for the family if your visit. If not possible, do not force it rather talk to the close relations about it.
• Entrance to the family: This is an exciting moment as it gives excitement to you for gaining entrance. If the health worker does not gain entrance, he may not succeed in his studies. You must be tactful, polite, cultured, and caring. You must be very observant and feel relaxed as this opportunity will help you to learn much about the family. You will discover more about the family and, as such achieve your care. You will discover many things about the family, such as the setup, the relationship between the members of the family, the environment around the family, the amenities, their vulnerability, etc. Keep every discovered secret to yourself, don’t bastardize the privilege.
• Progression and success of care to the family: Once you have gained entrance and somehow become part of the family, you will have enough care for the members of the family, and continue to visit the family as the need arises until you complete your care of the family.
• Record your visits: Every visit must be planned and effectively documented for continuity of care. Only the data with relevance should be documented to avoid confusion. This family care study must be documented according to the laid down format from the institution of study to ensure uniformity in care and documentation.
• Family organogram: This is a diagrammatic way of presenting family history. Much information about the family can be seen in an organogram limiting much writing. It helps you the health worker to see the family at a glance. More of the family problems and lineage can be deduced from the organogram. It saves you time for other things.