Prevention
is most effective when accompanied by risk assessment.
Routine
visits for preventive care are important, however standardized procedures
without attention to the risk profile of each patient has limited efficacy
for prevention, neither is this cost effective.
Both the
frequency and the content of preventive services should be based on
clinical evidence and individual risk profile of each patient.
Categories of Preventive Services
Screening Tests:
Tests or
standardized examination procedures to identify patients with disease.
Non-standardized screening involves gathering patient history and
information to assess risk or presence of disease symptoms.
Criteria of Effectiveness for Screening Tests:
Accuracy of screening tests and effectiveness of early detection.37
Counseling Interventions:
Patient receives
advice for personal behavioral modifications that can reduce the risk of
subsequent illnesses. Most effective for primary prevention. Should be
accompanied by risk assessment.
Criteria of Effectiveness
for Counseling Interventions:
Efficacy of risk reduction and effectiveness of counseling.37
Immunizations and
Chemoprophylaxis:
Drugs or biologics taken by asymptomatic individuals to
prevent the occurrence of disease. Primary prevention.
Criteria of Effectiveness
for Immunizations:
Efficacy of vaccine.37
Criteria of Effectiveness
for Chemoprophylaxis:
Efficacy of chemoprophylaxis and effectiveness of counseling.37