Levels of Preventive Medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, (or injuries) rather than curing them or treating their symptoms. The term contrasts in method with curative and palliative medicine, and in scope with public health methods (which work at the level of population health rather than individual health).
Preventive medicine strategies are typically described as taking place at the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary prevention levels.
| Level | Definition |
|---|---|
| Primary prevention | Primary prevention strategies intend to avoid the development of disease. Most population-based health promotion activities are primary preventive measures. |
| Secondary prevention | Secondary prevention strategies attempt to diagnose and treat an existing disease in its early stages before it results in significant morbidity. |
| Tertiary prevention | These treatments aim to reduce the negative impact of established disease by restoring function and reducing disease-related complications. |
| Quaternary prevention | This term describes the set of health activities that mitigate or avoid the consequences of unnecessary or excessive interventions in the health system. |
In addition, the term “primal prevention” has been used to describe all measures taken to ensure fetal well-being and prevent any long-term health consequences from gestational history and/or disease. The rationale for such efforts is the evidence demonstrating the link between fetal well-being, or “primal health”, and adult health. Primal prevention strategies typically focus on providing future parents with: education regarding the consequences of epigenetic influences on their child, sufficient leave time for both parents, and financial support if required.
Simple examples of preventive medicine include hand washing and immunizations. Preventive care may include examinations and screening tests tailored to an individual’s age, health, and family history. For example, a person with a family history of certain cancers or other diseases would begin screening at an earlier age and/or more frequently than those with no family history. On the other side of preventive medicine, some non-profit organizations, such as the Northern California Cancer Center, apply epidemiological research towards finding ways to prevent diseases.
source: en.wikipedia.org
Primary prevention is what we will focus for posts filed under “preventive medicine, preventive care” category.
