Preventive care focuses on which of the following?

• A. to prevent illness and detect disease early
• B. treating existing illness only
• C. only emergency care
• D. documenting patient preferences

Answer: (A)

Preventive care centers on stopping illness before it starts and catching diseases early when treatment is more effective. It includes vaccines, routine screenings, and guidance on healthy habits to reduce risk factors, all aimed at avoiding illness or identifying problems at a stage when they’re easier to treat. The other options describe activities that aren’t about prevention: treating a disease that already exists, providing care for urgent or emergency situations, and simply documenting patient preferences—each important, but not the preventive focus described here.