Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam

What is an example of secondary prevention in health care?

1. Vaccinations to prevent disease

2. Regular medical check-ups and screenings

3. Rehabilitating patients after surgery

4. Education on healthy lifestyle choices

The correct answer is: Regular medical check-ups and screenings

Secondary prevention refers to activities aimed at early detection and intervention to halt the progression of a disease or condition. This level of prevention targets individuals who may already have risk factors or early signs of the disease but are not yet symptomatic. Regular medical check-ups and screenings play a critical role in this process. By conducting screenings such as blood pressure measurements, cholesterol tests, or cancer screenings (like mammograms or colonoscopies), healthcare providers can identify potential health issues before they develop into more serious conditions. Early identification allows for timely interventions, which can significantly improve health outcomes and reduce the severity of diseases. In contrast, vaccinations are an example of primary prevention, which aims to prevent diseases from occurring at all. Rehabilitation after surgery illustrates tertiary prevention, focusing on managing and reducing the complications of established diseases. Education on healthy lifestyle choices can support both primary and secondary prevention efforts but does not specifically fall under the umbrella of secondary prevention as it does not directly involve the detection of existing diseases.