In this sense, of course, early diagnostics and screening methods do not qualify as true preventive medicine. It is certainly true to state that the survival rate of many potentially lethal diseases depends on the stage of diagnosis. However, per definition, true preventive medicine should prevent disease from even reaching the earliest of stages. Therefore our systems of preventive medicine and early diagnosis are only marginally overlapping. In this way, both the investigation and treatment of patients becomes much more effective.
TERMINOLOGY
EARLY DIAGNOSIS VS. TRUE PREVENTION
DISEASE = FAILED PREVENTION
SCREENING
FROM BASIC TO ADVANCED
Depending on the aim, screening programs are directed towards early diagnosis or at general risk factors. The outcome is a curative or no treatment in the first case, or a lifestyle recommendation and screening advice in the latter. These two approaches are not mutually exclusive but currently only combined in the private Health Care schemes. |
