Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

What might be a consequence of focusing excessively on tertiary prevention?

1. Increase in healthy individuals

2. Decrease in disease incidence

3. Rise in complications from untreated conditions

4. Improved health outcomes for all

The correct answer is: Rise in complications from untreated conditions

Focusing excessively on tertiary prevention, which involves managing and mitigating the impact of established diseases, can lead to unintended consequences such as a rise in complications from untreated conditions. This happens because resources and attention may be disproportionately allocated to managing existing health issues rather than implementing preventative measures that could stop diseases from developing in the first place. When a healthcare system invests heavily in tertiary prevention, it may neglect primary prevention strategies, which aim to prevent disease onset, and secondary prevention strategies, which focus on early detection and intervention. As a result, individuals might not receive adequate screening or preventative care, leading to a higher likelihood of untreated conditions worsening over time. Consequently, those complications can result in more severe health outcomes, increased healthcare costs, and a greater burden on healthcare systems. In contrast, the other options, such as an increase in healthy individuals, a decrease in disease incidence, or improved health outcomes for all, would typically be associated with a balanced public health approach that includes robust primary and secondary prevention strategies, rather than an overemphasis on tertiary prevention.