Determinant
Determinant (Medicine)
Determinant (pronounced de-ter-mi-nant) is a term used in the field of medicine to refer to a factor or element that contributes to the outcome of a health condition or disease.
Etymology
The term 'Determinant' is derived from the Latin word 'determinare', which means 'to limit or define'. In the context of medicine, it refers to the factors that define or limit the outcome of a health condition.
Definition
In medicine, a determinant is any factor, whether event, characteristic or other definable entity, that brings about change in a health condition or other defined characteristic. These can be biological, such as genetic factors, or environmental, such as exposure to toxins or lifestyle choices.
Types of Determinants
There are several types of determinants in medicine, including:
- Genetic Determinants: These are factors related to an individual's genetic makeup that can influence their susceptibility to certain diseases or conditions.
- Environmental Determinants: These are factors related to an individual's environment, such as exposure to toxins, that can influence their health.
- Behavioral Determinants: These are factors related to an individual's behaviors, such as diet and exercise, that can influence their health.
- Social Determinants: These are factors related to an individual's social environment, such as socioeconomic status or education level, that can influence their health.
Related Terms
- Risk Factor: A characteristic, condition, or behavior that increases the likelihood of getting a disease or injury.
- Health Outcome: A change in the health status of an individual, group or population which is attributable to a planned intervention or series of interventions, regardless of whether such an intervention was intended to change health status.
- Epidemiology: The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Determinant
- Wikipedia's article - Determinant
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