Question

Match the following prevention strategies to whether they describe a primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention activity.

1. Self-management program offered to people who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder 
2. Free condoms available at local health departments 
3. Dental x-rays performed once a year at general dental visits and treatment for identified cavities

Answer 1

Primary prevention :-It means actions are taken before the onset of disease. It includes

1)health promotion example -health education, nutritional intervention etc.

2)specific protection -immunization, chemoprophylaxis, use of specific nutrients etc.

Free condoms available at local health department is a primary prevention method. It will help to reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Secondary prevention :-This is aimed at patients with an existing pathology to reduce the risk of recurrence or progression. Early diagnosis and treatment are the intervention for secondary prevention.

Example -all type of screening test

Dental X-rays performed once a year at general dental visit and treatment for identified cavities. This is a secondary prevention method. Here first we are diagnosing the problem next treatment providing.

Tertiary prevention :-All measures to reduce or limit the disability and impairment minimize suffering caused by disease process.

Self management programme offered to people who diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a tertiary prevention method by engaging people at the level of their functional status so they may manage their own functions and it help people who have ongoing health conditions learns how to live life to the fullest.