Who definitions/primary/prevention

Question 1

Definition of handicap

Answer 1

Handicap and disability are used as synonym but they aren’t. In 1980 theWorld Health Organization WHO/OMS in the “International Classification ofImpairments, Disabilities and Handicaps –ICIDH” gave the following definitions:

Question 2

Impairment

Answer 2

Impairment: any loss or deviation of physiological, neurological oranatomical structure or function of an organ or body part (organ andbody dimension), a physiological disorder or injury;

Question 3

Disability

Answer 3

Disability: A disability reflects any limitation or lack of ability that aperson experiences in performing an activity in the manner or within therange considered normal for a person, in other words, a limitation inlearning, speaking, walking or some other activity (individualdimension);

Question 4

Handicap

Answer 4

Handicap: loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the life ofthe community on an equal level with others; encounter a person withdisability and social, physical environment. Is an inability to accomplishsomething one might want to do. The term emphasize the focus onshortcomings in the environment and in many tasks and activities, ex. ineducation, occupation, information or communication (socialdimension).

Question 5

Primary prevention

Answer 5

Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it ever occurs. This is done by preventing exposures to hazards that cause disease or injury, altering unhealthy or unsafe behaviors that can lead to disease or injury, and increasing resistance to disease or injury should exposure occur. Examples include:legislation and enforcement to ban or control the use of hazardous products (e.g. asbestos) or to mandate safe and healthy practices (e.g. use of seatbelts and bike helmets)education about healthy and safe habits (e.g. eating well, exercising regularly, not smoking)immunization against infectious diseases.

Question 6

Secondary prevention

Answer 6

Secondary prevention aims to reduce the impact of a disease or injury that has already occurred. This is done by detecting and treating disease or injury as soon as possible to halt or slow its progress, encouraging personal strategies to prevent reinjury or recurrence, and implementing programs to return people to their original health and function to prevent long-term problems. Examples include:regular exams and screening tests to detect disease in its earliest stages (e.g. mammograms to detect breast cancer)daily, low-dose aspirins and/or diet and exercise programs to prevent further heart attacks or strokessuitably modified work so injured or ill workers can return safely to their jobs.

Question 7

Tertiary prevention

Answer 7

Tertiary prevention aims to soften the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects. This is done by helping people manage long-term, often-complex health problems and injuries (e.g. chronic diseases, permanent impairments) in order to improve as much as possible their ability to function, their quality of life and their life expectancy. Examples include:cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs, chronic disease management programs (e.g. for diabetes, arthritis, depression, etc.)support groups that allow members to share strategies for living wellvocational rehabilitation programs to retrain workers for new jobs when they have recovered as much as possible.

Question 8

Primary care

Answer 8

The primary care level is the “gatekeeper”, the first point of medical consultation. As a patient you are usually seen by a primary care physician, also called a general practitioner or family physician. Primary care is provided at a doctor’s office, health center or Urgent Care center. The Emergency Room is also often a source of primary care for the un- or under-insured.

Question 9

Secondary Care

Answer 9

Medical specialists and other health professionals, who typically don’t have initial contact with patients, provide secondary care. For example, a primary care physician might refer a patient to a cardiologist, rheumatologist, or a urologist or other specialty physician. Some secondary care physicians do not require a patient to have a referral from a primary care practitioner.Another category of secondary care is hospital care, or acute care. The term covers care as an admitted patient in a hospital, a visit to a hospital ER, attendance in childbirth, medical imaging (radiology) services and care within an intensive care unit.Physical therapists, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals often work in secondary care.

Question 10

Tertiary Care

Answer 10

Patients being treated requiring a higher level of care in a hospital may be considered to be in tertiary care. Physicians and equipment at this level are highly specialized. Tertiary care services include such areas as cardiac surgery, cancer treatment and management, burn treatment, plastic surgery, neurosurgery and other complicated treatments or procedures.A fourth level of care, quarternary care, is a more complex level of tertiary care. Uncommon, highly specialized and experimental treatments and procedures are considered to be at the quarternary care level.