The city health department director asks the community health nurse to make a presentation describing the greatest health concern facing the city. How should the nurse begin to collect the data needed for this presentation?

A) Smoking cessation:
Smoking cessation is a crucial preventive measure and is considered a primary prevention strategy to reduce the risk of developing smoking-related diseases. However, for a middle-aged client who already has health issues such as obesity or hypertension, secondary prevention focuses on early detection and management of conditions that have already developed or are at high risk of developing.

B) Compliance with antihypertensive and lipid-lowering agents:
While compliance with medication is essential for managing existing conditions such as hypertension or dyslipidemia, it is not a secondary prevention measure in itself. Secondary prevention is focused on screening and early detection of health issues before they progress further.

C) Blood pressure and lipid screening:
Blood pressure and lipid screening are appropriate secondary prevention measures for this client. Secondary prevention involves identifying and managing health conditions early to prevent progression or complications. Given the client’s smoking history, weight, and potential risk for cardiovascular issues, regular screening for blood pressure and lipid levels helps detect any developing issues early, allowing for timely intervention.

D) Increase physical activity and diet low in saturated fat:
Increasing physical activity and adopting a diet low in saturated fat are important lifestyle changes for overall health and primary prevention of chronic diseases. However, in the context of secondary prevention, where the focus is on monitoring and managing existing risk factors or health conditions, screening measures like blood pressure and lipid testing are more directly relevant.

A) Evaluate the teacher's ability to identify pediculosis capitis 2 months after initiation of the program:
Evaluating the teachers’ ability to identify pediculosis capitis is important for ongoing surveillance, but it does not directly measure the effectiveness of the program in reducing the prevalence of the condition. This action focuses more on teacher training rather than the program's overall impact.

B) Measure the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among the children after four months:
Measuring the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among children after the implementation of the program is the most effective way to evaluate the program's success. By comparing the prevalence before and after the program, the nurse can assess whether the interventions (educational pamphlets and regular assessments) have led to a reduction in cases.

C) Survey parents 3 weeks after pamphlets are sent home to assess their understanding of the condition:
Surveying parents about their understanding of pediculosis capitis is useful for evaluating the reach and impact of the educational component. However, it does not directly measure the effectiveness of the program in reducing the actual prevalence of pediculosis capitis among children.

D) Conduct an initial examination of each child in the school to obtain baseline data:
Conducting an initial examination provides valuable baseline data on the prevalence of pediculosis capitis before the program begins. However, this action alone does not evaluate the effectiveness of the program; it must be followed by assessments after the program’s implementation to determine if there has been a reduction in cases.