Prevention and screening

Question 1

What is primary prevention

Answer 1

stopping a disease before it is there - ie vaccination

Question 2

what is secondary prevention

Answer 2

detecting a disease early to be able to treat it better - ie screening

Question 3

what is tertiary prevention

Answer 3

already have the disease - prevent the complications ie diabetic foot checks

Question 4

whats the prevention paradox

Answer 4

a measure which brings much benefit to the population often offers little to the individual (ie seat belts)

Question 5

3 types of screening - like could it happen?

Answer 5

population wide program
opportunistic
pre employment medical

Question 6

worked example based on a personal topic

what affects the decision to screen for macrophallus?

Answer 6

is it an important problem? [no - not a problem]
latent phase? [yes]
known natural history? [yes]
suitable screening test? [ yes, a ruler]
acceptable screening test? [probably not]
is there a treatment available? [hope not]
cost? [rulers are widely available and cheap]

Question 7

define sensitivity (of a test)

Answer 7

% people correctly identified by a test

true positives/Everyone with the disease - detected and not

Question 8

define specificity (of a test)

Answer 8

% people correctly identified as not having the disease

true negatives/everyone WITHOUT the disease

Question 9

define positive predictive value

Answer 9

% of those who have a positive test result who DO have the disease
(is it any good)

Question 10

define negative predictive value

Answer 10

% of those who have a negative test result who DONT have the disease
(is it any good)