What it means
Activities aimed at a particular disease or risk, such as vaccines, screening tests, smoking cessation and safe-sex teaching. It works at the three levels of preventionprih-VEN-shunAction taken to stop a disease, injury or problem from happening, or to keep it from getting worse.Full entry : primary (stop it starting), secondary (find it early) and tertiary (limit the damage). It differs from health promotionhelth pruh-MOH-shunHelping people take actions that keep them well and improve their health.Full entry , which aims to raise overall well-being rather than prevent one disease.
For the nurse
Use each visit to check that screenings and vaccines are up to date and to teach risk reduction.
At a glance
| Spanish | prevención de enfermedades |
|---|---|
| Also written | disease-prevention |
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
health promotion
Helping people take actions that keep them well and improve their health.
Pap test
A screening test in which cells are gently scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope.
prevention
Action taken to stop a disease, injury or problem from happening, or to keep it from getting worse.