OET Rx - Lesson 18: Explaining Prevention Strategies
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OET Rx

Lesson 18: Explaining Prevention Strategies

Course Progress: Lesson 18 of 100

In this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Differentiate between and explain the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
  • Clearly explain risk factors and protective factors to a patient.
  • Discuss the rationale behind screening programs and vaccinations.
  • Motivate patients to adopt preventative health behaviors.

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Watermark: Persia Global

Part 1: Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Differentiate between and explain the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
  • Clearly explain risk factors and protective factors to a patient.
  • Discuss the rationale behind screening programs and vaccinations.
  • Motivate patients to adopt preventative health behaviors.

Lesson Video

Coming Soon

This video will be available for the offline course version.

Part 2: Vocabulary & Examples

Study the words, their pronunciations, Persian translations, and example sentences to understand how they are used in context.

General Vocabulary

idea /aɪˈdɪə/:

ایده

The entire idea behind a screening program is to detect a disease before any symptoms develop.

ideal /aɪˈdiːəl/:

ایده‌آل

In an ideal world, we would prevent all illnesses, but the next best thing is to catch them early.

mitigate /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/:

کاهش دادن

Through this discussion, I hope to find lifestyle changes that can mitigate any modifiable risk factors.

ignore /ɪɡˈnɔːr/:

نادیده گرفتن

It is very important that you do not ignore the recall letter for your screening test, as it is a crucial preventative measure.

illness /ˈɪlnəs/:

بیماری

Our goal is to create a long-term plan to prevent future illness, rather than just treating problems as they arise.

image /ˈɪmɪdʒ/:

تصویر

The mammogram will give us a clear image of the breast tissue, allowing us to identify any early changes.

imagine /ɪˈmædʒɪn/:

تصور کردن

I can imagine that discussing these risks might be worrying, but knowledge is the first step towards prevention.

immediate /ɪˈmiːdiət/:

فوری

One immediate step you can take to reduce your risk is to stop smoking.

immediately /ɪˈmiːdiətli/:

بلافاصله

If you develop any of the red flag symptoms we discussed, you must contact us immediately.

impact (n.) /ˈɪmpækt/:

تأثیر

Lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on reducing your risk of developing heart disease.

imply /ɪmˈplaɪ/:

اشاره کردن

A positive screening test does not imply a diagnosis of cancer; it simply means we need to do further, more definitive tests.

importance /ɪmˈpɔːtns/:

اهمیت

I cannot overstate the importance of vaccination in preventing serious childhood illnesses.

important /ɪmˈpɔːtnt/:

مهم

It is important to understand that having a risk factor does not mean you will definitely get the disease.

impossible /ɪmˈpɒsəbl/:

غیرممکن

It is impossible to eliminate all risks, but we can certainly take steps to manage and reduce them.

impression /ɪmˈpreʃn/:

برداشت

My impression is that you are hesitant to take this preventative medication, so let's discuss your concerns.

impressive /ɪmˈpresɪv/:

چشمگیر

The impressive decline in the incidence of cervical cancer is a direct result of the HPV vaccination and screening programs.

improve /ɪmˈpruːv/:

بهبود بخشیدن

Even small changes to your diet can significantly improve your long-term health outcomes.

improvement /ɪmˈpruːvmənt/:

بهبود

We are looking for a gradual improvement in your cholesterol levels as a result of these preventative measures.

incident /ˈɪnsɪdənt/:

حادثه

Following the recent cardiac incident in your family, it is even more important to assess your own risk factors.

include /ɪnˈkluːd/:

شامل شدن

A comprehensive prevention plan should include diet, exercise, and regular health screenings.

increase (v.) /ɪnˈkriːs/:

افزایش دادن

Our goal is to increase your level of physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week.

increasingly /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/:

به طور فزاینده

It is becoming increasingly clear that preventative medicine is the most effective approach to public health.

indeed /ɪnˈdiːd/:

در واقع

This is, indeed, a very effective vaccine with a long and proven safety record.

independent /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/:

مستقل

Our aim is to give you the tools and knowledge to take independent control of your health.

Medical Vocabulary

Incidence /ˈɪnsɪdəns/:

شیوع

The national vaccination program has led to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of measles.

Morbidity /mɔːrˈbɪdəti/:

بیماری‌زایی

The primary goal of statin therapy is to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Mortality /mɔːrˈtæləti/:

مرگ‌ومیر

Smoking cessation is the single most effective preventative intervention to reduce cancer mortality.

Prevention (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) /prɪˈvenʃn/:

پیشگیری

Primary prevention, like vaccination, aims to stop the illness from ever occurring.

Prevalence /ˈprevələns/:

گسترش

The prevalence of obesity is a major public health concern as it is a risk factor for many other illnesses.

Prophylaxis /ˌproʊfəˈlæksɪs/:

پیشگیری دارویی

We recommend antibiotic prophylaxis before this dental procedure due to your heart condition.

Protective Factor /prəˈtektɪv ˈfæktər/:

عامل محافظتی

Regular exercise is a powerful protective factor against both cardiovascular disease and depression.

Risk Factor /rɪsk ˈfæktər/:

عامل خطر

A high-fat diet is a significant modifiable risk factor for developing high cholesterol.

Screening /ˈskriːnɪŋ/:

غربالگری

The national bowel cancer screening program is offered to everyone over the age of 60.

Vaccination / Immunization /ˌvæksɪˈneɪʃn/ /ˌɪmjunaɪˈzeɪʃn/:

واکسیناسیون / ایمن‌سازی

Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent many serious infectious diseases.

Part 3: Pre-Class Practice Tests

Reading Task (Longer & More Professional):

Excerpt from "The Lancet Public Health"

The prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) serves as a paradigm for the application of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies. Primary prevention involves measures to avert the initial occurrence of CVD in individuals who are currently healthy. This population-level approach focuses on mitigating modifiable risk factors. Key interventions include promoting smoking cessation, encouraging a balanced diet low in saturated fats, and advocating for regular physical activity. Public health campaigns and government policies, such as sugar taxes, are crucial components of this stage. The goal is to reduce the overall incidence of CVD in the population. In contrast, secondary prevention targets individuals who are at high risk of CVD or who have early signs of disease but are not yet symptomatic. This includes interventions such as prescribing statins for those with elevated cholesterol levels or recommending regular screenings like blood pressure checks for early detection. Tertiary prevention, meanwhile, focuses on managing established CVD to prevent further complications and improve quality of life.

Question: According to the text, what is the main difference between primary and secondary prevention?

Primary prevention uses medication, while secondary prevention focuses on lifestyle.
Primary prevention targets the entire population, while secondary prevention targets high-risk individuals.
Primary prevention is for patients with established disease, while secondary prevention is for healthy individuals.

Listening Task (Part C Simulation - Interview):

Scenario: You will hear an interview with an epidemiologist, Dr. Chen, discussing challenges in cancer screening programs.

0:00

Task:

1. What does Dr. Chen say is a major barrier to people attending screening?

The high cost of the procedures.
The lack of available appointments.
Fear of the procedure itself or of a potential bad result.

2. Dr. Chen implies that an ideal screening program should be...

run by specialist doctors only.
easy for patients to access and understand.
compulsory for the entire population.

Part 4: Answer Key for Pre-Class Work

Reading Answer: b) Primary prevention targets the entire population, while secondary prevention targets high-risk individuals.

Listening Answers: 1. c) Fear of the procedure itself or of a potential bad result. 2. b) Easy for patients to access and understand.

Part 5: In-Class Preparation

Be prepared to discuss the vocabulary and practice the following tasks in class.

Speaking Task: OET Role-Play Card (Medicine)

Setting: A GP's office during an annual check-up.
Patient: A 45-year-old male patient who feels perfectly healthy. He is a smoker (15 per day) and his father had a heart attack at age 52. His blood pressure and BMI are at the higher end of normal.
Task: Acknowledge his current good health. Gently introduce the concept of "risk factors" versus current illness. Explain how his smoking and strong family history are significant risk factors for future heart disease. Emphasize that he has the power to change this future outlook. Introduce the idea of smoking cessation as the single most important preventative step he can take. Suggest a follow-up appointment specifically to discuss a smoking cessation plan.

Writing Task:

You are the doctor from the speaking scenario. Following the consultation, you are writing a referral letter to your in-house "Smoking Cessation Clinic" for this patient. The patient has agreed, albeit reluctantly, to attend. Write a 180-200 word letter. You must outline the patient's significant cardiovascular risk factors to emphasize the urgency of the intervention.