The 5 A's Model

Thu Cao

HLSA 601

University of Maryland

Question Set 3: due 10/29

1. Most clinical practice guidelines that physicians use to achieve effective behavioral interventions are based on the “5 A’s” model. Briefly describe this model, using tobacco cessation counseling as an example.

-The 5 A’s model: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange. Using tobacco cessation counseling as an example, the 5 A’s model is a brief intervention effectively used for identifying and addressing tobacco using habits while motivating tobacco users to quit. The first A in the model is Ask, ask patients about their past and current tobacco using history (e.g. if they have smoked before, if they’re currently smoking, how many cigarettes do they smoke a day, how many

Primary prevention level prevents future diseases such as providing vaccinations. Secondary prevention is the early detection and treatment such as annual exams and pap smears. Tertiary prevention is preventing the progression and complications of established disease such as providing education for diabetics and asthmatics. Interventions are considered of preventing health risks. As discussed above, primary prevention is to prevent a disease before it occurs. Encourage parents to have their children vaccinated, encourage others to alter their unsafe lifestyle choices that can lead to diseases (e.g. smoking cessation to prevent diseases and cancer). Legislation mandated safety laws such as using seatbelts while driving and wearing helmets while riding motorcycles. As for secondary prevention, during this level, the goal is to reduce the adversely impacts of the disease that has already occurred by slowing or halting the progression of the disease or injury. For example, those who are high risk for heart attacks and strokes are advised to take a low dosage of aspirins on the daily, increase physical activities, and introduce a healthier food choices. Regular exams such as pap smears and mammograms are encouraged for women to detect early diagnose of breast cancer. Finally, the third prevention level is tertiary prevention. In this level, individuals who have already been diagnosed with an illness, it is important to manage the chronic diseases to improve quality of life and increase life expectancy. For instance, individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and mental illness are provided with support groups, rehabilitation programs, disease management programs, disease education, and vocational rehabilitation programs to regain independence and manage the illness to have productivities. With the combination of all three levels of prevention, individual