At what level of prevention would lung cancer screening currently be classified?

Lung cancer screening is classified as secondary prevention. This level of prevention focuses on early detection and intervention to reduce the severity and impact of the disease. Screening tests are aimed at identifying cancer in asymptomatic individuals so that it can be treated as early as possible, which has been shown to improve outcomes.

Primary prevention involves measures taken to prevent the onset of disease, such as smoking cessation programs or vaccinations, but does not include screening in people who may already have the disease.

Tertiary prevention aims to manage and reduce the impact of diagnosed diseases, typically involving rehabilitation and management strategies after the condition has developed.

Primordial prevention is concerned with preventing the emergence of risk factors in the first place, which is more about societal efforts to create an environment that reduces disease risk.

Thus, lung cancer screening is designed to catch the disease at an earlier stage, aligning it with secondary prevention efforts aimed at early detection and intervention.