When discussing community health, what does "preventative medicine" refer to?

Preventative medicine refers specifically to actions and strategies designed to prevent diseases and improve health outcomes before any illness occurs. This includes a range of activities such as vaccinations, health education, screening for diseases, lifestyle modifications (like diet and exercise), and environmental measures aimed at reducing disease risk factors. By focusing on prevention, this approach can significantly reduce the incidence of diseases and promote overall well-being in communities.

The other options focus on aspects of health care that do not align with the core principles of preventative medicine. Treatment after a diagnosis pertains to management and therapy rather than prevention. Health services provided only to the ill indicate a reactive rather than proactive approach to health care. Lastly, research on medicine fees does not directly relate to public health strategies aimed at disease prevention.