Question

A. Primary B. Secondary C. Tertiary ___ Reduce complications or disabilities with rehabilitation and optimal function. ___ Reduce the incidence of disease by focusing on health education and health promotion. ___ Treat the disease to prevent further complications. Matching: Match the level of preventions with the goal of each level.

Short answer

Primary prevention matches with B ('Reduce the incidence of disease by focusing on health education and health promotion'), secondary prevention matches with C ('Treat the disease to prevent further complications'), and tertiary prevention matches with A ('Reduce complications or disabilities with rehabilitation and optimal function').

Step-by-step solution

Understand the definitions

Differentiate among the three levels of prevention. Primary prevention aims to stop the inception of disease, secondary prevention targets the early stages of diseases aiming to stop or slow the progress, and tertiary prevention aims to reduce the impact of the disease after it has taken effect.

Match the prevention levels with the goals

Match B to 'Reduce the incidence of disease by focusing on health education and health promotion' as this corresponds with the primary prevention. Match C to 'Treat the disease to prevent further complications' as this corresponds with the secondary prevention. Match A to 'Reduce complications or disabilities with rehabilitation and optimal function' as this corresponds with the tertiary prevention.

Key concepts

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention is all about stopping health issues before they start. Think about it as a proactive approach to health. This level focuses on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing diseases through health education and promotion.
For example, encouraging healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and vaccinations can fall under primary prevention.

• Promoting balanced diets and regular physical activity to fend off lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes
• Providing vaccines to prevent infectious diseases
• Educating the community about the importance of handwashing or safe sex to prevent disease transmission

By reducing risk factors and enhancing resistance to health issues, primary prevention works to decrease the number of cases before they occur.

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention is all about catching issues early. This level of prevention aims to detect and address diseases in their initial stages to halt or slow down their progress. The idea is to act quickly so that minor issues do not escalate into major ones.
Think of measures such as regular screenings and tests.

• Offering mammograms for early detection of breast cancer
• Regular blood pressure checks to identify hypertension
• Smear tests to detect early stages of cervical cancer

These interventions enable early identification of diseases, allowing for prompt treatment and better health outcomes. The goal is to mitigate the severity and progression of diseases if they are already present.

Tertiary Prevention

Tertiary prevention focuses on managing existing diseases with the goal of reducing complications and enhancing quality of life. When diseases progress to a significant stage, tertiary prevention steps in to minimize disabilities through effective intervention strategies.
This type of prevention involves rehabilitation efforts and therapeutic procedures.

• Providing physiotherapy to patients who have suffered a stroke
• Offering cardiac rehabilitation programs to those with heart disease
• Managing chronic conditions with regular follow-ups and medication adjustments

The essence of tertiary prevention is to aid recovery and prevent disease-related decline. It aims to ensure that individuals lead productive and fulfilling lives despite their health conditions.