Which is a characteristic of secondary prevention?

• A. Preventing disease before it occurs
• B. Providing palliative care
• C. Activities aimed at early disease detection before symptoms
• D. Reducing complications after disease progression

Answer: (C)

Secondary prevention focuses on identifying disease early, often before symptoms appear, so timely treatment can prevent progression and complications. The description of activities aimed at early disease detection before symptoms aligns precisely with this idea, since screening and early diagnosis enable interventions that stop the disease from worsening. For example, mammograms, colonoscopies, and routine blood pressure or cholesterol screenings look for disease in people who aren’t feeling sick, allowing earlier management. In contrast, preventing disease before it occurs is primary prevention, providing palliative care relates to comfort in advanced disease, and reducing complications after progression describes tertiary prevention.