Objective: To clarify how and when Japanese family physicians assess families in their daily practice.Methods: Participants were Japanese family physicians with over one year of experience of full-time work in their clinics, and who were able to join the focus group discussions (FGD) and member checking. The study employed a qualitative research design with semi-structured FGD. Two analysts examined video recordings of the FGD, and the results were verified through member checking and the checking by external members.Results: Physicians assessed families naturally while examining patients for common cold, during vaccination, and during registration in the Japanese care insurance system.Additionally, the physicians assessed the families when they observed or suspected something strange regarding the patient and/or the family.Families were assessed based on how they spent their time during special Japanese events that the family members attended together (e.g., Bon festival or Japanese style New Year holidays), the patient's illness behavior in non-reserved outpatient clinics, and their communication patterns. Furthermore, the family photograph technique for family therapy was also used for assessment.Conclusion: Participants utilized skills of family therapy such as communication patterns and family photographs. They also employed unique skills such as assessment of the families' sharing time during traditional events, assessment of the patient's illness behavior, and general assessments regarding the Japanese care insurance system.

Thirteen cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated during a period of 7 years and 5 months. In 6 cases, left thoracotomy was used before laparotomy to clamp the descending thoracic aorta. The merits and demerits of this method were evaluated in this study. It is useful for early improvement of cerebral and coronary circulation and prevention of sudden spurting hemorrhage, especially in cases with the previous laparotomies. On the other hand, this method has a shorter clamp time limit and requires much time in cases with pleural adhesions. It may increase the amount of operative bleeding and the incidence of postoperative respiratory insufficiency. It may also cause an intraoperative thoracic aortic dissection and rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysms if present. It is considered that this method is advantageous, but should be used only in selected cases.