Quaternary prevention: reviewing the concept

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Table

The current Wonca International Dictionary definition

‘Action taken to identify patient at risk of overmedicalization, to protect him from new medical invasion, and to suggest to him interventions, which are ethically acceptable.’

The new definition

‘Action taken to protect individuals (persons/patients) from medical interventions that are likely to cause more harm than good.’

Figure 1. Model of different categories of prevention in the relational model proposed by Marc Jamoulle. Adapted from the original with permission [7].

Figure 2. Illness and disease in relation to the four categories of prevention. Adapted from the original with permission [21].

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