Objective: The aim of thé study was to investigate Swedish nurses1 attitudes to thé significance of families in nursing care. Method: An instrument (FAMBO), based on a research literature review, was developed by thé researchers. The instrument consists of 60 items about nurses' attitudes to thé significance of families in nursing care, i.e. for thé patients, thé family members and for thé nurses. The items include nurses' thoughts, feelings and actions in relation to, for example, engagement, communication, information and family resources. During May 2004, thé questionnaire was posted to 1000 nurses randomly sampled from The Swedish Association of Health Professionals' list of members, excluding administrators, teachers and retired nurses. After two reminders, we received 709 instruments, of which 50 were unanswered. The response rate was 66% (n = 659). The analysis, descriptive and analytic statistics, has just begun (Nov, 2004). The study is a co-operation between Kalmar University and The Swedish Association of Health Professionals. Results: At thé conférence, nurses' attitudes to thé significance of families in nursing care will be presented, for example, in relation to âge, organizational form and in relation to nurses' areas of work. Conclusion: The resuit of this study will be a part of thé foundation for further development of family nursing in Sweden.