The GET IT glossary

The main objective of this tool is to help people understand unfamiliar concepts and terms when they are assessing claims about treatments. The glossary can be viewed at http://getitglossary.org/
 
The GET IT glossary aims to:
facilitate informed choices about treatments by:
  • providing plain language explanations of concepts and terms that people might need to understand if they wish to assess claims about treatments
  • promoting consistent use of plain language
 
Be useful to people who:
  • don’t have a research background, particularly those wanting to make an informed choice about a treatment
  • communicate research evidence to the general public
  • teach others about how to assess claims made about treatments
 
“Treatments” include any intervention (an action or initiative) intended to improve health.  These could be treatments that aim to prevent a health problem, actively treat a current problem, or help recovery from an illness or injury, as well as public health treatments, such ensuring safe drinking water, and things that affect whole health systems, such as how care for the elderly is organised.
 
What makes GET IT different from other glossaries?
 
  • Plain language definitions and explanations
  • Collaboration: developed by three international projects with over 20 partner organizations. Others can use GET IT to adapt definitions and explanations for specific targeted audiences, including translations into different languages.
  • Short definitions (approximately 130 characters) that can be quickly accessed and read as scroll overs, longer explanations with examples and technical definitions
  • Links to additional resources, such as illustrative examples, videos and interactive applications
  • Open access: definitions and explanations can be accessed from other websites, the glossary can be embedded in other websites, and others can use its content to create their own tailored glossaries and applications
 
 
Supporting materials:
The GET IT glossary
 
The Top Ten terms
 
Using GET IT on your website