The participation of primary care physicians is essential for the success of ambulatory-care teaching. The “PEP2 Workbook” was developed by the Preceptor Education Project of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and provides clinicians with a variety of efficient and effective strategies for ambulatory-care teaching. Strategies include preparation for office visits by students, activities on the first day, one-minute preceptor teaching skills, observation of the student, providing feedback, and dealing with problems. Primary care physicians can apply these strategies readily in clinical practice to improve office-based teaching.

In the United States, the Family Case Study is a tool used in family medicine to teach students about clinical problems and the effects of illness on the patient and the family. Because the Family Case Study is not well known in Japan, the purpose of this paper was to introduce the Family Case Study on the basis of our experiences and to describe its implementation in the Department of Family Medicine of the University of Michigan Medical School. Although the Family Case Study must be adapted for Japan, we urge its use as a practical means of learning about family medicine and the concept of the biopsychosocial approach through practical learning experiences.