What are the three commonly described levels of disease prevention?

Prevention is commonly described at three levels. Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs (e.g., immunization, healthy lifestyle, education). Secondary prevention aims to detect and treat disease early (e.g., screening tests). Tertiary prevention aims to manage established disease to limit complications and restore function (e.g., rehabilitation, ongoing management of a chronic condition). Recognizing the three levels of prevention — and being able to classify examples — is a foundational health-promotion concept. Understanding this framework helps the nurse identify the goal of various interventions. (This reflects a standard framework; verify against current NCLEX prep materials.)