Secondary prevention seeks to identify and control disease processes in their early stages before signs and symptoms develop.

• A. Secondary prevention seeks to identify and control disease processes in their early stages before signs and symptoms develop.
• B. Secondary prevention aims to restore functioning after disease.
• C. Secondary prevention prevents exposure to risk factors.
• D. Secondary prevention reduces costs of care.

Answer: (A)

Secondary prevention focuses on finding disease early, often before any symptoms appear, and acting to prevent progression and complications. This relies on screening tests that detect conditions in their latent or asymptomatic stages, allowing timely intervention to stop or slow the disease process from advancing.

For example, screening tests like mammography, Pap smears, or colonoscopies identify cancers or pre-cancerous changes before a person notices signs. Once identified, prompt management aims to stop the disease from becoming advanced, reducing the chance of symptoms developing and improving outcomes.

This differs from other levels of prevention. Restoring functioning after disease describes rehabilitation or treatment aimed at recovery once disease has already caused damage, which aligns with tertiary prevention. Preventing exposure to risk factors is primary prevention, aiming to stop disease from starting in the first place. Reducing costs of care is not a defining goal of a prevention level, though it can be a downstream effect.