[Description and implementation of primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive strategies in otorhinolaryngology]

Prevention is gaining increasing importance in modern medicine. Its goal is to avoid, delay, or reduce the occurrence of diseases and thereby decrease the overall disease burden. In otorhinolaryngology, multiple opportunities exist for implementing preventive strategies. This article is intended to provide an introductory overview of the topic of prevention in otolaryngology, while detailed aspects will be addressed in subsequent articles of this special issue.

This article provides an overview of established and emerging preventive measures in otorhinolaryngology and classifies them within the framework of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. A narrative review of relevant preventive approaches was conducted based on selected examples from current literature and clinical practice.

Primary prevention includes vaccination programs; public awareness campaigns on risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, and oncogenic viruses; and occupational hearing protection. Secondary prevention comprises screening programs, particularly newborn hearing screening and audiometric testing in risk groups. Tertiary prevention involves oncologic follow-up care, hearing rehabilitation, and multimodal therapy for chronic tinnitus.

Consistent implementation of preventive strategies at all levels can substantially reduce disease burden and improve patients' quality of life. Given the increasing medical and economic challenges, prevention plays a key role in 21st-century otorhinolaryngology.