Question

Public Health class:

Describe the characteristics of clinical preventive interventions and provide three examples (200 words at least)

Answer 1

Clinical preventive intervensions defined as the measures taken for maintenance and promotion of health and the reduction of risk factors that result in injury and disease. Primary prevention activities deter the occurrence of a disease or adverse event. eg;mmunization, smoking cessation, or initiation of an exercise program with the goal of disease prevention. Secondary prevention is the early detection of a disease or condition in an asymptomatic stage so treatment can delay or block the occurrence of symptoms. Screening for disease such as mammographic detection of breast cancer falls in the category of secondary prevention. Tertiary prevention attempts to deter adverse consequences of existing clinical disease. A cardiac rehabilitation program to prevent the recurrence of a myocardial infarction is an example of tertiary prevention. Tertiary prevention overlaps with conventional medical care in that it can be considered treatment for an established condition.

Preventive services have decreased morbidity and mortality from both acute and chronic conditions. However, these services are underutilized for numerous reasons. Barriers to their use include physician, patient, and health system factors. The traditional disease/treatment model should be modified to incorporate more preventive services. The subsequent 2 parts of this review will discuss suggestions for integrating primary preventive services and screening into primary care practice.

Clinical preventive interventions , such as routine disease screening and scheduled immunizations, are key to reducing death and disability and improving the Nation’s health. These services both prevent and detect illnesses and diseaseClinical preventive services, such as routine disease screening and scheduled immunizations, are key to reducing death and disability and improving the Nation’s health. These services both prevent and detect illnesses and disease from flu to cancer—in their earlier, more treatable stages, significantly reducing the risk of illness, disability, early death, and medical care costs.  Yet, despite the fact that these services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, millions of children, adolescents, and adults go without clinical preventive services that could protect them from developing a number of serious diseases or help them treat certain health conditions before they worsen.

Clinical preventive services offer tremendous opportunity to save years of life and to help people live better during those years. Moreover, science-based prevention can save money—and provide high-quality care—by helping people avoid unnecessary tests and procedures. Evidence-based preventive services are effective in reducing death, disability, and disease, including:

• Certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer
• Chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes
• Infectious diseases, such as influenza, chicken pox, and pneumonia
• Mental health conditions and substance abuse
• Vision disorders.

For example:

• Clinical preventive services to prevent cardiovascular disease alone could save tens of thousands of lives each year.
• On average, 42,000 deaths per year are prevented among children who receive recommended childhood vaccines.
• Blood pressure screening and control is one of the most effective ways to prevent heart disease and stroke. Among people with diabetes, blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 33 to 50%.
• Water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults.

Preventive care services can be delivered in a variety of ways, such as through public health programs or during a visit to a physician. On average, 3 of every 4 people in the United States see a physician each year, and the majority of visits are to primary care practitioners who are an important source of health care information.Because health concerns are at the forefront of people's minds during an office encounter where a physician's message can make a powerful, reliable, and credible impression, physician visits provide a unique opportunity to deliver preventive care. Despite this, preventive services are currently underutilized by physicians due, in part, to the way some aspects of clinical medical care are commonly practiced.

. Changes in the health care system will be necessary to increase preventive services on a population-wide basis. Covering basic preventive services by providing appropriate reimbursement could have a major effect on reducing morbidity and mortality from many diseases. Education is a necessary and important first step for patients, physicians, and other health care providers. However, knowledge, by itself, does not translate into behavior change. Office-based strategies to translate knowledge into action may help promote beneficial changes in health behaviors. Once the value of preventive services is acknowledged and supported, then programs and systems to implement these services can be initiated.