Community Health Practice: Prevention and Treatment

Study Notes

Secondary and Tertiary Prevention

Secondary prevention focuses on early identification and treatment of existing health problems to minimize progression.
Tertiary prevention aims to return clients to their highest level of function and prevents further health deterioration.

Treatment of Disorders

The treatment approach includes:
- Direct services for individuals with health problems.
- Indirect services to enable access to treatment through appropriate referrals.
- Development of programs to address and correct unhealthy conditions.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation efforts reduce disabilities and restore function at individual, family, group, and community levels.

Evaluation

Evaluation analyzes and assesses practices based on established goals and standards to ensure effectiveness.

Research

Research involves systematic investigations to discover facts affecting community health and improve health service methods.

Role of Nurses

Hospital nurses communicate findings to physicians and may not take independent decisions regarding care.
Community nurses possess autonomy, making independent decisions and referrals based on patient conditions.

Settings of Community Health Nursing

Community health nursing is practiced in various settings, including:
- Homes
- Schools
- Ambulatory service settings (e.g., maternal and child health, family planning)
- Occupational health settings
- Residential institutions (e.g., hospices)
- Broader community initiatives (e.g., campaigns for polio prevention)

Components of Community Health Practices

The six basic components of community health practices are:
- Promotion of health, seeking to enhance overall wellbeing and access to preventive services.
- Prevention of health problems, focusing on early identification and minimizing disability through three levels of prevention.

Types of Prevention

Primary prevention actions are implemented before health problems occur, focusing on health promotion, protection, and illness prevention.

Community Health Focus

Community health is a major field within medical sciences, emphasizing maintenance and improvement of health among population groups rather than individual patients.
Distinct from public health, which encompasses broader lifestyle promotion, disease prevention, and control of infectious diseases.

Community Health Nursing

Combines nursing and public health to protect and promote population health, integrating professional nursing principles with community practices.

Historical Development of Community Health Nursing

Early home care (pre-1800s) provided curative and care services by lay and religious leaders.
District nursing (1860-1900) offered preventive and curative care to underprivileged individuals.
Public health nursing (1900-1970) targeted family units for public health services, emphasizing disease prevention and health promotion through official health agencies.

Description

This quiz covers the three levels of prevention in community health practice: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. It also explores the treatment of disorders and the methods of providing direct and indirect services to individuals with health problems.