What concept refers to interactions of factors and exposures affecting disease risk?

The concept that refers to the interactions of factors and exposures affecting disease risk is best captured by the causal web. A causal web illustrates how various factors, such as biological, environmental, social, and behavioral influences, interconnect and contribute to the development of health issues or diseases. This framework emphasizes the complexity of disease causation, acknowledging that a single exposure or factor cannot solely account for the occurrence of a disease. By recognizing these intricate relationships, health professionals can better understand the multifaceted nature of health risks and develop more comprehensive strategies for intervention and prevention.

The other concepts, while relevant in the field of public health and epidemiology, do not specifically address the interactions among multiple factors and exposures in the same way. For instance, the epidemiologic triangle focuses on the relationship between the agent, host, and environment in understanding disease transmission. Health determinants refer more broadly to the various social, economic, and environmental conditions that impact health outcomes but do not emphasize the interplay of these conditions. Risk assessment is a process used to identify and evaluate risks associated with exposures but does not inherently analyze how multiple factors interact concurrently.