CONCEPTS ABOUT PREVENTION AS DEFINED BY MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDIC SOCIETY

Because preventive efforts ought to be the focus in pediatric orthoped ics, we mailed a questionnaire to all European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (EPOS) members to evaluate their concepts and definitions abou t prevention in pediatric orthopedics as well as the scope and structu re of preventive programs in their countries. Considering the survey d esign, which involved writing responses and providing specific country wide information, the response rate was relatively high (50%). It was noteworthy that, while practicing medicine in diverse environments, me mbers use a common language when speaking about prevention. EPOS membe rs are participating in similar preventive efforts, most of which are focused on secondary prevention in the form of screening programs. We analyze and discuss the first two questions in our survey, which asked for definitions about prevention and whether prevention is equal to e arly detection.