Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

At what level of prevention would you classify screening for lung cancer?

1. Primary prevention

2. Secondary prevention

3. Tertiary prevention

4. Screening for lung cancer is not currently recommended

The correct answer is: Screening for lung cancer is not currently recommended

Screening for lung cancer is most appropriately classified under secondary prevention, which focuses on early detection and treatment of diseases that may not yet be symptomatic. Secondary prevention aims to identify diseases in their early stages to help minimize any potential complications or severity by implementing timely interventions. In the case of lung cancer, this involves the use of imaging techniques, such as low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), in high-risk populations (e.g., long-time smokers). It's important to differentiate this from primary prevention, which involves measures to prevent diseases from occurring in the first place, such as smoking cessation or avoiding exposure to known carcinogens. Tertiary prevention relates to managing and reducing the impact of a disease once it has been diagnosed and is often focused on rehabilitation and preventing complications. Considering all of this, the assertion that screening for lung cancer is "not currently recommended" overlooks the established guidelines that recommend screening for certain high-risk populations due to the potential benefits observed. Thus, the correct classification of screening for lung cancer should be secondary prevention, as it involves detecting the disease early to improve outcomes.