Question

. There are multiple levels of prevention and treatment in healthcare (i.e. primary, tertiary, etc.). List each level and give an example of a public health intervention for each. (500 words)

Answer 1

Preventive healthcare or prophylaxis consists of measures taken for disesase prevention. Disease and disability are affected by genetic,environmental factors,disease agents and lifestyle choices that are dynamic processes which begin before individuals realize they are affected. Disease prevention relies on anticipatory actions that can be categorized to

1) Primary prevention

2)Secondary prevention

3)Tertiary prevention

Primary prevention: It consists of traditional health promotion and "specific protection". It aims to avoid the development of a disease or disability in healthy individuals. In other words,it aims to promote population health and well-being and prevent disease and harm before it occurs. Health promotion activities are current, non -clinical life choices such as, eating nutritious meals and exercising daily, that both prevent disease and create a sense of overall well-being.Preventing disease and creating overall well-being,prolongs life expectancy. Health- promotional activities do not target a specific disease or condition but rather promote health and well-being on a very general level.Food is considered as the most basic tool in preventive health care.

The examples of primary prevention are:

a) 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).

b) education about healthy and safe habits (e.g.eating nutritious foods exercising regularly, not smoking)

c) immunization against infectious diseases such as rubella, polio, measles and soon.

2) Secondary prevention: It aims to prevent the progression of disease through early detection and intervention. In other words,it reduces 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. It also deals with latent diseases and attempts to prevent an asymptomatic disease from progressing to symptomatic disease. Secondary prevention consists of " early diagnosis and prompt treatment" to contain the disease and prevent its spread to other individuals, and disability limitation to prevent potential future complications and disabilities from the disease.

Examples of secondary prevention are:

a) regular screening tests to detect disease in its earliest stages (e.g. mammograms to detect breast cancer)

b) diet control and exercise programs to prevent further complications of diabetes ,stroke and heart attacks.

c) screening for cervical cancer

d) screening for dental caries ,peridontal screening and recording for periodontal disease.

3) Tertiary prevention : It aims to reduce 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) inorder to improve as much as possible their ability to function,their quality of life and their life expectancy. Tertiary prevention attempts to reduce the damage caused by symptomatic disease by focusing on mental ,physical, and social rehabilitation. The objectives of tertiary prevention is to maximize the remaining capabilities and functions of an already disabled patient. The main goal of tertiary prevention include preventing pain and damage ,halting progression and complications from disease and restoring the health and fuctions of the individuals.

Examples of tertiary preventions are :

a) Vocational rehabilitation programs to retrain workers for new jobs when they have recovered as much as possible

b) Cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs (e.g. for diabetes, arthritis, depression etc)

c) Support groups that allows members to share strategies for living well.

d) insulin therapy for diabetes

e) replacement of missing teeth with bridges,implants or dentures.