Preventive medicine aims to reduce risks factors that contribute to disease development and progression. Such practices are divided into primary (e.g., immunization), secondary (e.g., screening tests), and tertiary prevention (e.g., medical or surgical therapy, rehabilitation). In addition, the term "primordial prevention" refers to measures that reduce health risks across a society (e.g., fortification of salt with iodine). The paradox of prevention is that the measures that benefit the population as a whole rarely benefit the individual.
See related learning card Epidemiology.
If a group is very large (e.g., the population of a country), there will always be a substantial number of cases of a particular disease or injury even if the risk is low.
Preventive measures that benefit a large group of people often provide little or no benefit for the individual.
Preventive measures that benefit a small group of people often provide little or no benefit for the population as a whole.
Prevent the onset of specific diseases via risk reduction by altering behaviors or exposures that can lead to disease, or by enhancing resistance to the effects of exposure to a disease agent.
Primarily decrease the incidence, and in turn, decrease the prevalence of disease.
Early detection of disease in asymptomatic patients to promote early intervention, and to prevent further progression and complications from the disease.
Consists of a 2-step process: screening test to identify disease and a follow-up for management of the disease.
Secondary prevention testing measures are not intended to be diagnostic!
Optimize care of patients with an established disease to improve functionality and prevent complications.
Lower the risk of relapse.
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