Question

Difficulty: MediumHealth Promotion and Disease Prevention

A nurse in a university health clinic is developing a health promotion plan for a 21-year-old female client. The client is sexually active, reports drinking four to five alcoholic beverages on weekend nights, and has a strong family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which of the following nursing interventions represent primary prevention strategies for this client? (Select all that apply.)

  1. Administering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.Answer
  2. B
    Performing a Papanicolaou (Pap) test to evaluate for cervical dysplasia.
  3. Educating the client on the consistent use of barrier contraceptives.Answer
  4. D
    Obtaining a fasting blood glucose level to assess for diabetes risk.
  5. Discussing the physiological risks of binge drinking and strategies for harm reduction.Answer
  6. F
    Teaching the client how to perform a monthly breast self-examination.

Answer

The correct primary prevention strategies include administering the HPV vaccine, educating on barrier contraceptives, and discussing the risks of binge drinking.
Primary prevention involves actions taken prior to the onset of disease, which intercept its causation or modify its course before clinical manifestation. Administering immunizations (like the HPV vaccine) and providing health education to alter high-risk behaviors (such as teaching about barrier contraceptives and discussing alcohol use) actively prevent the occurrence of illness or injury, fulfilling the criteria for primary prevention.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recall the definitions of the levels of prevention.
Primary prevention prevents disease before it occurs; secondary prevention involves early detection and screening; tertiary prevention focuses on rehabilitation and preventing complications of existing disease.
Understanding these definitions is required to correctly classify each clinical intervention.
2
Analyze the selected interventions.
Vaccinations, safer sex education, and alcohol harm reduction counseling all aim to prevent a health problem from developing in the first place.
These interventions clearly match the definition of primary prevention.
3
Analyze the rejected interventions.
Pap tests, fasting blood glucose checks, and breast self-examinations are all screening tools designed to catch disease early.
These interventions are classified as secondary prevention and must be excluded from the answer.

Key Concept

Levels of Disease Prevention: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary
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