Areas of preventive health care at secondary level for elderly includes:

IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Community Health Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

Secondary prevention focuses on the early detection of disease and prompt intervention to halt its progression.
Screening for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), such as blood pressure checks for hypertension, mammograms for breast cancer, and blood sugar tests for diabetes, is a cornerstone of secondary prevention.
The goal is to identify diseases in their earliest, most treatable stages, thereby reducing severity and preventing long-term complications, which is particularly important in the elderly population.

Option A: Immunization is a primary prevention strategy. It aims to provide specific protection against infectious diseases before an individual is exposed to them.
Option B: Injury prevention, such as implementing fall prevention measures for the elderly, is a primary prevention activity. It focuses on avoiding an injury before it occurs.
Option D: Rehabilitation services are a form of tertiary prevention. They are implemented after a disease or disability has become established, with the goal of restoring function and minimizing long-term effects.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Levels of Preventive Healthcare helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the three levels of prevention is fundamental for nurses in all settings. It guides patient education, care planning, and community health initiatives.
For geriatric patients, nurses must be proficient in all three levels: promoting primary prevention (e.g., flu shots, fall safety), facilitating secondary prevention (e.g., coordinating screenings, monitoring blood pressure), and managing tertiary prevention (e.g., arranging physical therapy, supporting chronic disease self-management).
What if? If the question had asked for a tertiary prevention strategy for an elderly patient who just had a stroke, the correct answer would be 'Rehabilitation Services' to help them regain as much function as possible.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept and keyword in the question stem: 'secondary level' of preventive care.
Recall the definition of secondary prevention: its main purpose is the early detection and prompt treatment of diseases to slow or stop their progression.
Analyze each option based on this definition.
Recognize that 'Immunization' and 'Injury Prevention' are actions taken before a disease or injury occurs, classifying them as primary prevention.
Identify 'Rehabilitation Services' as interventions used after a disease has caused significant impairment, which is tertiary prevention.
Conclude that 'Screening for NCDs' is the only option that fits the definition of early detection, making it the correct example of secondary prevention.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Levels of Preventive Healthcare
Stem keywords: preventive health care, secondary level, elderly
Lead-in keywords: includes
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 pp. 96-98, 32-34

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 34-36