What is the definition of secondary prevention?

Secondary prevention refers to the strategies and measures that aim to detect diseases at an early stage, allowing for timely and more effective treatment. This is crucial because many diseases can be more easily managed or cured when they are identified early, before they progress to more severe stages. For example, screening tests for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or certain cancers allow for early intervention, which can significantly improve health outcomes for patients.

While other options like focusing on overall wellness, providing chronic disease management, and reducing healthcare costs are important aspects of healthcare management, they do not specifically capture the essence of secondary prevention, which is primarily concerned with the early detection and prompt treatment of existing disease to reduce its impact. Therefore, the correct understanding centers on the proactive identification of disease, enhancing the effectiveness of the subsequent treatment.