RESUMO
Objective: To clarify the involvement of Japanese family physicians with patients and their 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 checks. 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 checks and external checks.Results: Eight physicians participated at first, but five of them dropped out because of job commitments or death. The involvement by Japanese family physicians consisted of three stages. The first stage was "the approach of repeated hypothesis testing and normalizing" as safety interventions. The second stage was "reevaluation of the family" utilizing family genograms, family conferences, and others. After exhausting all other efforts, they engaged in "accepting the one who comes to them" in collaboration with the patient and families. The outcomes included awareness of patients, their smiles due to feeling accepted, and their expressed emotions. They did not explicitly boast that they were able to engage with family members. In addition, they also needed case studies of instances of "failure." Conclusion: Japanese family physicians engaged in three-stage involvement with families.