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About
the Program
About the Program
Co-Directors and
staff
"An
Ounce of Prevention"
Bi-monthly Newsletter
The Prevention
Syllabus
PACT- Prevention
in
ACTion student
interest group
Health Care
&
Prevention
MPH Program
Student
Opportunities
in prevention
Prevention links
of interest
Back to 
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UNC
home page
Program
on Prevention in Education & Practice
What is Prevention?
Prevention is the appropriate reduction of risk of a future adverse health event. The content area of prevention is to be distinguished from "therapy"(improving a current health state) or "palliation" (reducing the symptoms of a current health state). Prevention deals with reducing the risk of a future adverse health event, while "therapy" deals with improving a current health state. For example, "treating" hypertension is actually a preventive activity (a form of prophylaxis) to reduce the risk of, among other conditions, a future cerebrovascular accident.
It is important to note that prevention is relevant for almost all people, not just those who are completely well. Prevention is potentially more important for anyone with a future health risk- which includes nearly everyone.
There are six general ways in which medical practitioners carry out prevention:
counseling to alter modifiable risk factors;
screening for early detection
of disease or increased levels of risk factors;
immunizations;
prophylaxis of risk factors to prevent the occurence of future health
problems;
public education; and
advocacy of public policies that would result in prevention of health
problems in the community.
(Click on the red button to go to the Prevention Syllabus module that describes the strategy. This feature is limited to those members of the UNC School of Medicine community.)
E-mail comments &
questions to Amy L. Ward
Last updated 11/06/02