A community health nurse is providing teaching to a client about primary prevention methods for sexually transmitted infections. The nurse should identify that the teaching reflects which of the following stages of the natural history of disease model?
Incubation period
Stage of clinical illness
Stage of recovery, disability, or death
Stage of susceptibility
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A: Incubation Period
The incubation period refers to the time between exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of symptoms. During this stage, the pathogen is multiplying within the host, but there are no visible signs or symptoms of the disease. Primary prevention methods, such as education about safe sex practices and vaccination, are not typically associated with this stage because they aim to prevent the initial exposure to the pathogen.
Choice B: Stage of Clinical Illness
The stage of clinical illness is when the disease manifests with recognizable symptoms and signs. At this point, the focus is often on secondary prevention (early detection and treatment) and tertiary prevention (managing symptoms and preventing complications). Primary prevention methods are less relevant during this stage because the goal is to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place, rather than managing it after symptoms appear.
Choice C: Stage of Recovery, Disability, or Death
This stage represents the outcomes of the disease, where the individual either recovers, experiences long-term disability, or dies. Interventions at this stage are typically tertiary prevention measures, aimed at rehabilitation and reducing the impact of the disease. Primary prevention methods are not applicable here, as they are intended to prevent the disease from occurring initially.
Choice D: Stage of Susceptibility
The stage of susceptibility is the period before the disease process begins, where individuals are at risk of developing the disease. Primary prevention methods are most effective during this stage, as they aim to reduce the risk of exposure to the pathogen and enhance the individual's resistance to infection. Examples include education on safe sex practices, vaccination, and promoting healthy behaviors to prevent sexually transmitted infections⁴⁵.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Autonomy refers to respecting an individual's right to make their own decisions. In the context of healthcare, it means allowing patients to make informed choices about their own care. While autonomy is an important ethical principle, it is not the primary focus when considering the balance of benefits and harms in a community-wide intervention.
Choice B Reason:
Beneficence is the ethical principle that involves acting in the best interest of others by promoting good and preventing harm. In this scenario, the nurse demonstrates beneficence by ensuring that the benefits of the physical activity program substantially outweigh any potential harms. This principle is central to public health initiatives, where the goal is to enhance the well-being of the community.
Choice C Reason:
Nonmaleficence is the principle of "do no harm." It emphasizes the importance of not causing harm to others. While nonmaleficence is closely related to beneficence, the focus in this scenario is on the positive impact of the intervention (beneficence) rather than solely avoiding harm (nonmaleficence).
Choice D Reason:
Justice refers to fairness and equality in the distribution of resources and treatment. It ensures that all individuals have equal access to healthcare and that no group is unfairly disadvantaged. Although justice is a crucial ethical principle, the scenario specifically highlights the balance of benefits and harms, which aligns more closely with beneficence.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A: "When the Exposure is Decreased or Eliminated, the Risk of Disease Declines or is Eliminated."
This statement accurately describes the concept of cessation of exposure in establishing causation. According to the Bradford Hill criteria, if a factor is truly causal, reducing or eliminating exposure to that factor should lead to a decrease in the incidence of the disease. This principle helps to confirm the causal relationship between the exposure and the disease.
Choice B: "The Exposure Must Come Before the Disease Develops."
This statement refers to the temporal relationship criterion in the Bradford Hill criteria, which states that for an exposure to be considered causal, it must precede the onset of the disease. While this is an important aspect of establishing causation, it does not specifically address the concept of cessation of exposure.
Choice C: "A Relationship is Biologically Possible, and it Makes Sense."
This statement pertains to the biological plausibility criterion, which suggests that the observed association between an exposure and a disease should be consistent with existing biological and medical knowledge. While biological plausibility is crucial for establishing causation, it does not directly relate to the cessation of exposure.
Choice D: "Increased Exposure Increases the Risk of Developing the Disease."
This statement describes the dose-response relationship, another criterion in the Bradford Hill framework. It indicates that a greater level of exposure to a risk factor should correspond to a higher risk of developing the disease. Although this is an important aspect of causation, it does not specifically address the cessation of exposure.
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