prevention

Question 1

what is primary prevention and its aims

Answer 1

The aim of primary prevention is to prevent a disease becoming established.

By reducing or eliminating exposures and behaviours that are known to increase an individual’s risk.

Question 2

give an example of individual primary prevention and population primary prevention

Answer 2

immunisations - population

weight management - individual

Question 3

what is the aim of secondary prevention

Answer 3

The aim of secondary prevention is to detect early disease and slow down or halt the progress of the disease.

Question 4

what is the aim of tertiary prevention

Answer 4

Once disease is established, detectable and symptomatic, tertiary prevention aims to reduce the complications or severity of disease by offering appropriate treatments or interventions.

Question 5

what is the prevention paradox

Answer 5

The prevention paradox states that a larger number of people at small risk of disease may contribute to more cases of that disease than a smaller number of people who are individually at greater risk.

Question 6

describe a high risk individual prevention programme

Answer 6

Target highest risk individuals
Aim to reduce risk to below set limit
Accepted by society - treat those outside “normal levels”

Question 7

describe a population based prevention approach

Answer 7

Target all individuals
Aim to reduce the risk for each individual
Recognises that the low risk majority may contribute most cases
Concerns over treating the well and the “nanny state”

Question 8

who benefits most from high risk intervention approaches? describe why this isn’t good

Answer 8

The high risk approach favours those who are more affluent and better educated.

They are:
More likely to engage with health services
More likely to comply with treatments
More likely to have the necessary means to change their lifestyle

–> furthers the social and health inequalities