Family Health Assessment Utilizing Functional Health Patterns

Family health assessment is an essential aspect of nursing practice, as it helps nurses to understand the health needs and concerns of a family as a whole. One effective way to conduct a family health assessment is by using functional health patterns, which is a framework that allows nurses to systematically gather and organize information about a family’s health status, behaviors, and beliefs.

Functional health patterns were developed by Marjory Gordon in 1987 and are based on the premise that health and illness are influenced by the ways in which people function in their daily lives. The functional health patterns framework consists of 11 categories, each of which represents a different aspect of a person’s health and functioning. These categories are:

1. Health perception/health management
2. Nutritional-metabolic
3. Elimination
4. Activity/exercise
5. Sleep/rest
6. Cognitive
7. Sensory-perception
8. Self-perception/self-concept
9. Role relationships
10. Sexuality
11. Coping/stress tolerance

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The following sections will provide a more detailed explanation of each of these categories and how they can be used in a family health assessment.

Health Perception/Health Management

The health perception/health management category refers to a person’s beliefs and attitudes about their own health and how they manage their health. This includes their understanding of their own health status, as well as their behaviors and habits related to maintaining their health, such as their diet, exercise, and use of healthcare services.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s health perception and management by asking questions such as:

• Do you consider yourself to be generally healthy? Why or why not?
• Do you have any specific health concerns or conditions? How do you manage these?
• What do you do to maintain your health?
• Do you have a regular healthcare provider? Do you visit them regularly?
• What do you do when you are feeling ill or have a health concern?

Nutritional-Metabolic

The nutritional-metabolic category refers to a person’s nutritional status and metabolism. This includes their diet, as well as their body’s ability to use and process nutrients.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s nutritional-metabolic status by asking questions such as:

• What do you typically eat in a day?
• Do you have any dietary restrictions or preferences?
• Do you have any concerns about your weight or nutrition?
• Do you take any supplements or medications that might affect your nutrition?

Elimination

The elimination category refers to a person’s bowel and bladder function. This includes their patterns of elimination, as well as any concerns or problems they may have with these functions.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s elimination patterns by asking questions such as:

• How often do you go to the bathroom?
• Do you have any concerns or problems with your bowel or bladder function?
• Do you use any medications or other treatments to manage any concerns or problems?

Activity/Exercise

The activity/exercise category refers to a person’s physical activity and exercise patterns. This includes the type and intensity of their physical activity, as well as their level of fitness.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s activity and exercise patterns by asking questions such as:

• What types of physical activity do you engage in?
• How often do you engage in physical activity?
• Do you have any concerns or problems with your physical activity or exercise?

Sleep/Rest

The sleep/rest category refers to a person’s sleep patterns and the quality of their sleep. This includes the amount of sleep they get, as well as any concerns or problems they may have with sleeping.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s sleep patterns by asking questions such as:

• How many hours of sleep do you typically get each night?
• Do you have any concerns or problems with sleeping, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, or frequent waking during the night?
• Do you use any medications or other treatments to help you sleep?

Cognitive

The cognitive category refers to a person’s mental functioning, including their ability to think, remember, and make decisions.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s cognitive functioning by asking questions such as:

• Do you have any concerns or problems with your memory or thinking skills?
• Do you have any difficulty making decisions or solving problems?
• Do you have any cognitive impairments, such as dementia or brain injury?

Sensory-Perception

The sensory-perception category refers to a person’s ability to receive and interpret sensory information from the environment, including their sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s sensory-perception abilities by asking questions such as:

• Do you have any concerns or problems with your vision, hearing, or other sensory abilities?
• Do you use any assistive devices, such as glasses or hearing aids, to help with your sensory perception?

Self-Perception/Self-Concept

The self-perception/self-concept category refers to a person’s sense of self and their beliefs and attitudes about themselves. This includes their self-esteem, self-worth, and body image.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s self-perception and self-concept by asking questions such as:

• How do you feel about yourself overall? Do you have a positive or negative self-image?
• Do you feel good about your abilities and accomplishments?
• Do you have any concerns or problems with your body image or self-esteem?

Role Relationships

The role relationships category refers to a person’s relationships with others and their roles and responsibilities within those relationships. This includes their family, social, and occupational roles.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s role relationships by asking questions such as:

• What are your roles within your family and other relationships?
• How do you feel about your roles and responsibilities within these relationships?
• Do you have any conflicts or concerns related to your roles and responsibilities?

Sexuality

The sexuality category refers to a person’s sexual development, identity, and behavior. This includes their sexual orientation, reproductive health, and sexual activity.

During a family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s sexuality by asking questions such as:

• How do you identify in terms of your sexual orientation?
• Do you have any concerns or questions about your reproductive health?
• Are you sexually active? If so, do you use any methods of contraception or protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Coping/Stress Tolerance

The coping/stress tolerance category refers to a person’s ability to cope with and adapt to stress and challenges in their life. This includes their coping strategies, as well as their level of resilience and ability to adapt to change.

During a

family health assessment, the nurse can gather information about the family’s coping and stress tolerance by asking questions such as:

• How do you typically cope with stress and challenges in your life?
• Do you have any specific techniques or strategies that you use to manage stress?
• Do you feel that you are able to effectively cope with the demands and challenges in your life?
• Do you have any concerns or problems related to your ability to cope with stress and adapt to change?

Conclusion

In conclusion, the functional health patterns framework is a useful tool for conducting a comprehensive family health assessment. By gathering information about the family’s health perception/health management, nutritional-metabolic status, elimination patterns, activity/exercise patterns, sleep/rest patterns, cognitive functioning, sensory-perception abilities, self-perception/self-concept, role relationships, sexuality, and coping/stress tolerance, nurses can gain a more holistic understanding of the family’s health and well-being. This information can then be used to develop an appropriate care plan that addresses the unique needs and concerns of the family.