Family APGAR

Rapid screening test instrument for family dysfunction, has adequate reliability and validity to
measure individuals level of satisfation about family relationships

Purpose =To assess a family members perception of family functioning by examining his/her
satisfaction with family relationships.

The acronym APGAR is comprised of the first letter of each parameter :

A ADAPTATION = Capability of family to utilize & share inherent resources (intra/extrafamilial)
P PARTNERSHIP = Sharing of decision--making; measures satisfaction attained in solving
problems by communicating
G GROWTH = Physical & emotional growth; measures satisfaction of available freedom to
change
A AFFECTION = How love, anger, hatred are shared between members; measures satisfaction
with intimacy & emotional interaction existing in the family
R RESOLVE = How time, money, space are shared; measures satisfaction with commitment by
other members of family

When is famil APGAR NEEDED?

1 When family is direcly involved in caring for the patient
2 When trearing a new patient in order to serve as general view of famly function
3 When treating a patient whose family is in crisis
4 When patients behavior makes you suspect a psychosocial problem possible due to family
dysfunction

In Chao's study, poorer family satisfaction was highly correlated with poorer individual spirits, greater
degree of recent individual stress, poorer subjective rating of health, greater number of office visits,
and increased number of missed appointments.

Pineda, Alejandro Jr.. Proceedings of the Orientation Course in Family Medicine.p.48