In: Nursing
The different levels of prevention ultimately aims at providing quality life and to improve the life expectancy. The three levels of prevention include primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
As the health care delivering system have progressed a new level of prevention called primordial prevention has emerged. Primordial prevention is the prevention of development of risk factors of a disease. The difference between primary and primordial is that primordial aims at preventing the development of risk factors whereas primary prevention modify existing risk factors to prevent the development of disease.
Primary prevention.
Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it happens. It is through health education, lifestyle modification and specific protection.
Eg and significance. Prevention of diabetes mellitus by modifying the risk factors(eating a well balanced diet and regular exercise). Immunization against a particular disease.
Secondary prevention.
It aims to reduce the impact of disease or injury that has occurred. The disease has emerged and started to show symptoms. It includes early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Eg. Early diagnosis include regular physical examination and screening. Screening for breast cancer by mammogram every year. Treatment include most modern approaches of treatment for cancer with adjunct therapies, combination of radiation, surgery and chemotherapy.
Teritiary prevention.
In Teritiary prevention the damage has already taken place. The main aim is to improve ability to function, quality of life, life expectancy and to delay development of complications.
Eg. Cardiac and stroke rehabilitation programs and vocational training programs.