The nurse is evaluating a tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease implemented in a rural health clinic. Which outcome indicates the program is effective?
A.
Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation.
B.
Client relapse rate of 30% in a 5-year community-wide anti-smoking campaign.
C.
At-risk clients received an increased number of routine health screenings.
D.
Clients reported having new confidence in making healthy food choices.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation.
Explanation:
Tertiary prevention focuses on managing and reducing the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects. It aims to help people manage long-term, complex health problems effectively, to improve their quality of life, and to reduce complications associated with the disease. In the context of cardiovascular disease, tertiary prevention would include efforts such as rehabilitation, support for managing chronic conditions, and reducing the risk of disease progression or complications.
Option A: Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation.
This option indicates that the tertiary prevention program is effective. Rehabilitation is a critical component of tertiary prevention for cardiovascular disease. It involves helping individuals recover from the effects of disease complications, improve their physical function, and prevent further deterioration. Prompt rehabilitation is essential for minimizing the impact of complications, enhancing recovery, and improving overall quality of life. Therefore, the ability of the program to ensure that clients receive timely and appropriate rehabilitation aligns well with the goals of tertiary prevention.
Option B: Client relapse rate of 30% in a 5-year community-wide anti-smoking campaign.
While this option highlights an effort to prevent cardiovascular disease, it pertains to secondary prevention (e.g., reducing risk factors like smoking) rather than tertiary prevention. Tertiary prevention is concerned with managing existing disease rather than preventing its onset or recurrence.
Option C: At-risk clients received an increased number of routine health screenings.
Routine health screenings are a component of secondary prevention, aiming to detect disease early and intervene before it progresses. Tertiary prevention is concerned with managing the disease after it has been diagnosed, rather than focusing on screening.
Option D: Clients reported having new confidence in making healthy food choices.
While confidence in making healthy food choices is important, this outcome relates more to primary or secondary prevention. Primary prevention involves promoting healthy behaviors to prevent disease onset, and secondary prevention focuses on early detection and intervention. Tertiary prevention, however, specifically targets managing and mitigating the effects of existing diseases.
In summary, Option A best reflects an effective tertiary prevention program by emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation for those already experiencing complications from cardiovascular disease.