A nurse plans education for preventative health screenings in older adults. Which screening would she anticipate discussing as part of annual preventive care?

A nurse plans education for preventative health screenings in older adults. Which screening would she anticipate discussing as part of annual preventive care?

• A. Glaucoma
• B. Nutrition
• C. An annual mammogram
• D. Prostate-specific antigen

Answer: (C)

In older adults, annual preventive care focuses on screenings that have clear benefits and appropriate frequency. Screening for breast cancer with a mammogram is routinely discussed as part of this annual care because early detection can improve treatment outcomes and is commonly recommended for women in the age range where screening is advised. Glaucoma screening, while important for eye health, is not universally recommended as a population-wide annual screening because the benefits of routine screening for all older adults aren’t clearly established; instead, regular eye exams are guided by risk factors and symptoms. Prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer is controversial and not routinely recommended for all average-risk men due to potential harms from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Nutrition is vital to overall health, but it’s not a screening test in itself—rather, it involves assessment and counseling. So, the screening most typically included in annual preventive care for older adults is the breast cancer screening with mammography.

In older adults, annual preventive care focuses on screenings that have clear benefits and appropriate frequency. Screening for breast cancer with a mammogram is routinely discussed as part of this annual care because early detection can improve treatment outcomes and is commonly recommended for women in the age range where screening is advised.

Glaucoma screening, while important for eye health, is not universally recommended as a population-wide annual screening because the benefits of routine screening for all older adults aren’t clearly established; instead, regular eye exams are guided by risk factors and symptoms. Prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer is controversial and not routinely recommended for all average-risk men due to potential harms from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Nutrition is vital to overall health, but it’s not a screening test in itself—rather, it involves assessment and counseling. So, the screening most typically included in annual preventive care for older adults is the breast cancer screening with mammography.