3 QUESTIONS TO... :

1/ How is this new edition of the glossary presented and how did it evolve?

In the 1990s, the IRDES librarians initiated a bilingual glossary of terms in health economics and related fields, based on the reading of Anglo-Saxon journals specialized in these fields. A first electronic version in English/French was put online in the 2000s on the IRDES website. This glossary, which is intended to be pragmatic and does not claim to be exhaustive, was regularly updated. But this year, it has undergone a thorough restructuring and has been particularly enriched, notably by the translation into English of the IRDES monthly publication, Issues in Health Economics (Questions d'économie de la santé).
The new edition of the glossary is presented in its French/English version through a clear and dynamic layout that makes it easier to read. All the more so as it is now available in a thematic form: in addition to the initial alphabetical glossary, there is also an entry by theme, which includes the terms of the alphabetical glossary and classifies them into eleven distinct themes. A term can be translated several times. In addition, the new version now includes in the translation of English terms the keywords of the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) thesaurus of the Medline bibliographic database, insofar as a terminological correspondence exists.

2/ Who is it intended for? What are its main uses?

The glossary is intended for all audiences interested in health economics, in particular researchers and students wishing to write documents in English, but also field actors (health and medico-social professionals), as well as information professionals and translators specialised in the field of health economics. This field is understood here in a broad sense: by referring to the main fields of study and research of the IRDES, the glossary reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the Institute and extends to other disciplines such as geography and sociology of health. The specificity of its fields as well as the thematic classification of its terms distinguish it from other public health glossaries.

3/ What are the prospects for the evolution of the glossary?

First, we opted for a French/English version, unlike the original one. In a second step, we will propose alphabetical and thematic versions in English/French. This glossary will continue to be enriched over time, relying in particular on the latest developments in IRDES publications and the emergence of new concepts and themes in the fields concerned.

Interview by Anna Marek