The family APGAR: a proposal for a family function test and its use by physicians.

Understanding family function is an important aspect of patient care, yet a practical approach to the evaluation of fam­ ily function by the physician has not been devised. This paper introduces a brief questionnaire that is designed to test five areas of family function. The acronym APGAR has been applied to the functional components of Adaptability, Partner­ ship, Growth, Affection, and Resolve. The use of the Family APGAR is discussed, as well as ways of assessing family re­ sources and reporting data in a family problem-oriented rec­ ord. These guidelines are offered for the management of the family in trouble, so that the physician may view the use of the Family APGAR in the context of clinical practice.