Primary prevention seeks to prevent disease or injury before it occurs. This can be achieved by altering unhealthy or unsafe behaviors that can lead to disease or injury and increasing resistance to disease should exposure occur.
The Primary Prevention committee considers measures that address preventive care, education and counseling, health promotion, and screening measures. Subtopics may include health-related lifestyle behaviors, observable risk factors (e.g., age, obesity), and vaccination. Additionally, measures that address mental health screenings (e.g., depression, other psychiatric conditions), alcohol and drug use, comorbidities, and suicide risk screening are also included.