The nurse implements a tertiary prevention program for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a rural health clinic. Which outcome indicates that the program was effective?

A. Only 30% of clients did not attend self-management education sessions: This outcome does not directly indicate the effectiveness of a tertiary prevention program, which focuses on managing disease complications and improving quality of life after diagnosis. B. Average client scores improved on specific risk factor knowledge tests: Improved knowledge is important, but tertiary prevention aims more at managing and reducing the impact of complications in individuals who already have the disease. C. Clients who developed disease complications promptly received rehabilitation: Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing the impact of established disease and preventing further disability. Effective rehabilitation for clients with complications demonstrates successful tertiary prevention. D. More than 50% of at-risk clients were diagnosed early in their disease process: Early diagnosis falls under secondary prevention, not tertiary. Secondary prevention aims to identify and treat disease early to prevent complications, not managing existing complications.