In the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2^nd edition, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force outlined preventive service recommendations for all male and female patients in each of four age groups (birth to 10 years, 11 to 24 years, 25 to 64 years, and > 65 years), and for all pregnant women, as well as specific preventive services recommended for high-risk subpopulations within each group. The Task Force judged it particularly important to tailor the content of periodic health examinations to the individual patient, emphasizing preventive services considered to be effective, based on a patient's age, sex, and other risk factors.

For example, a clinician wishing to practice prevention during the remaining minutes of an office visit with a sedentary, overweight, married 56-year-old female executive might consider counseling about reducing dietary fat intake, reducing overall caloric intake, and engaging in a regular exercise regimen. In contrast, the practice of prevention during a similar office visit with a sexually active, single, 19-year-old female college student might focus on education about safe sex practices and various approaches to contraception.

For males and females within each age-group, risk factors specific for high-risk subpopulations are also important to consider during the periodic health examination. For example, minority children in urban areas are far more likely than non-urban non-minority children to have elevated blood lead levels. Among injecting drug users, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the leading cause of death and hepatitis B is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, whereas these problems are uncommon in the general population.

This handbook is divided into five chapters that summarize general preventive service recommendations for patients ages < 10 years, 11 to 24 years, 25 to 64 years, > 65 years, and pregnant female patients. Preventive service recommendations for high-risk subpopulations within each of these five groups are listed separately at the end of the corresponding chapter.

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