Family medicine
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Training residents in family-centered approaches offers an opportunity to investigate how learners translate skills to real clinical encounters. Previous evaluations of a family systems curriculum have relied on self-assessment and narrative reflection to assess resident learning. Assessment of learning using encounter observation and objective tools, including evaluation of empathy, allows for a deeper understanding of how residents transform curricular education into clinical practice. ⋯ Training in family systems can enhance patient interactions and may improve empathy. Evaluation of family-centered skills is challenging and takes a significant amount of time and planning. The FCOF can help learners identify how to use family-centered concepts and skills in a typical family medicine outpatient visit. Further study is needed to determine whether patients seen by doctors who use family-oriented skills have better experiences or outcomes.