PREVENTIVE MEDICINE ESSAY QUESTIONS AND
EXPLANATIONS.
1. Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give an example of
each.
Primary prevention:Prevents disease before it occurs (e.g., vaccination).
Secondary prevention:Early detection and treatment to prevent
progression (e.g., cancer screening).
Tertiary prevention:Reduces complications of established disease (e.g.,
rehabilitation after stroke).
2. What is primordial prevention, and how does it differ from primary
prevention?
Primordial prevention aims to prevent the development of risk factors
themselves (e.g., policies to reduce tobacco use), whereas primary
prevention targets existing risk factors to prevent disease.
3. Describe the role of screening in secondary prevention.
Screening identifies asymptomatic individuals with early disease or risk
factors to enable early intervention and reduce morbidity and mortality.
4. What criteria make a disease suitable for screening?
The disease should have a significant health impact, a detectable early
stage, an effective treatment, and a reliable, acceptable, and cost-effective
screening test.
5. Explain the concept of herd immunity and its importance in vaccination
programs.
Herd immunity occurs when a high proportion of a population is immune,
reducing disease spread and protecting those who are not immune.
6. List three modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and preventive
measures for each.
