[Reflections on the essence of family-centered care]

The aim of this article is to explore the essence of family-centered care; what it is and what it is not. The article approaches the concept of family-centered care from the points of view of both epistemology and ontology. The new concept of family-centered care had its beginning in the consumer movement and feminism in the 1960s, when patients, families, and health professionals in departments of obstetrics and pediatrics began to be aware of the needs of patients whole families. The concept of family-centered care emphasizes respect, support, and collaborative partnership between family members and health professionals. The new knowledge developed out of a practical need, affecting the old paradigm of patient care. New concepts and new knowledge emerged, causing a paradigm shift that influenced both policies and research at the same time. The body of knowledge in the profession was then disseminated through the expansion of education.