Levels of Prevention and Their Application in
Clinical and Public Health Practice
Question 1: Define and differentiate the three levels of prevention in preventive
medicine. Provide one clinical example for each level.
Answer:
Primary Prevention: Actions taken to prevent the onset of disease before it
occurs. This includes interventions that reduce risk factors or increase
resistance to disease.
Example: Immunization against measles to prevent infection.
Secondary Prevention: Early detection and intervention to halt or slow the
progression of disease at an asymptomatic stage.
Example: Mammography screening to detect early breast cancer.
Tertiary Prevention: Measures to reduce the impact of an ongoing illness by
restoring function and reducing complications.
Example: Rehabilitation programs for stroke patients to improve recovery.
Question 2: Explain the role of epidemiology in preventive medicine and how it
supports the implementation of prevention strategies.
Answer:
Epidemiology studies the distribution and determinants of health-related states in
populations. It provides essential data on disease incidence, prevalence, and risk
factors, which guide the development and targeting of prevention strategies. By
identifying high-risk groups and modifiable risk factors, epidemiology informs
public health policies and clinical guidelines to efficiently allocate resources and
reduce disease burden.
Question 3: A 68-year-old woman with no history of fractures had a negative
osteoporosis screening at age 65. According to USPSTF recommendations, what
is the appropriate interval for repeat osteoporosis screening?
Answer:
