What is one of the main objectives of the USPSTF in public health?

One of the primary objectives of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is to reduce morbidity and mortality from preventable diseases. The USPSTF achieves this by providing evidence-based recommendations for clinical preventive services, such as screenings, counseling, and preventive medications. These recommendations are designed to guide healthcare providers in delivering interventions that can prevent diseases before they occur, or detect diseases in their early stages when they are more treatable.

This focus on preventing disease and reducing illness underscores the importance of utilizing scientific evidence and expert consensus to promote public health. By identifying effective preventive measures, the USPSTF aims to improve health outcomes in the population and decrease the burden of illness associated with preventable conditions.

The other options do not align with the USPSTF's mission. Promoting alternative medicine does not constitute evidence-based practice for preventive health care. Increasing the number of screenings indiscriminately, regardless of their efficacy, would not effectively contribute to health improvement and could potentially lead to unnecessary procedures and anxiety without proven benefits. Lastly, while patient education is essential, the USPSTF emphasizes systematic and evidence-based recommendations rather than self-diagnosis, which can lead to misinterpretation and inappropriate treatments. Thus, the correct answer reflects the