Which of the following terms characterizes influences on health outcomes?

The term that characterizes influences on health outcomes is "health determinants." Health determinants encompass a wide range of factors that affect the health status of individuals and populations. These determinants can include genetic, social, economic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, which collectively play a crucial role in determining health outcomes.

For instance, socioeconomic status can influence access to healthcare, education can affect health literacy, and environmental factors like pollution can impact physical well-being. Understanding health determinants is essential for public health practitioners to devise effective strategies for improving health and addressing inequalities within populations. By identifying and addressing these determinants, interventions can be tailored to promote better health outcomes across different demographics.

The other terms, while related to health, do not encompass the broad range of influences that health determinants cover. Effective communication focuses on the transfer of information and may impact patient care and health literacy, while risk factors specifically refer to characteristics or conditions that increase the likelihood of developing a disease. Preventative measures involve actions taken to reduce illness but are not the broader influences that determine health outcomes. Thus, "health determinants" is the most fitting answer in this context.