本文擬針對「以家庭為中心的照護」本質，從認識論與本體論去探討此概念究竟是什麼？它又不是什麼？「以家庭為中心的照護」起源於1960年代的消費者運動與女性主義，並於醫院中造成兒科、產科之病人以及家屬與工作人員的覺醒。它強調的是「尊重」、「支持」，以及家屬和專業人員應互為「合作的夥伴」。由歷史可知新知識的產生，係因實務的需要，衝擊著舊有的典範，產生新概念、新知識的典範轉移，同時影響著政策與研究，再加上透過教育的推廣，專業的知識體系才得以建構。

　　　　　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.