Which of the following measures the risk of developing a disease due to an identifiable risk factor?

The attributable fraction is the measure that quantifies the proportion of disease incidence in the population that can be directly attributed to a specific risk factor. This metric helps to understand how much of the occurrence of a disease can be linked to a particular exposure, thus providing insights into the impact of that risk factor on public health.

This calculation is particularly valuable in epidemiology because it allows researchers and public health officials to identify the contribution of modifiable risk factors to disease burden. By determining the attributable fraction, one can assess the potential benefits of interventions aimed at reducing exposure to that risk factor, thus aiding in the development of targeted prevention strategies.

In contrast, the risk difference measures the absolute difference in risk between two groups but does not specifically focus on the contribution of a single, identifiable risk factor. Depth of exposure refers to the intensity or level of exposure to a risk factor rather than measuring its impact on disease occurrence. A causal model provides a framework for understanding the mechanisms by which risk factors lead to disease but does not offer a quantifiable measure of risk linked to a specific factor.