title: Lessons from the use of vignettes in the study of mental health service disparities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the development, feasibility, and use of a vignette approach as an important tool in health services disparities research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews with vignette developers and qualitative data from a novel mental health services disparities study that used vignettes in two samples: (1) predominantly low-income parents of children attending mental health specialty care who were Latino or non-Latino White and (2) Latino and non-Latino mental health clinicians who treat children in their practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conduct a content analysis of qualitative data from patients and providers in the Ethnic Differences Study to explore the feasibility of vignette methodology in health services disparities research, and we identify lessons learned that may guide future vignette development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vignettes provide a valuable approach that is acceptable to participants, elicits important insight on participant experience and services, and sheds light on factors that can help optimize study design for exploring health disparities questions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Researchers, clinicians, and others should consider a set of factors that help determine when a vignette approach is warranted in research, training, or for other uses, including how best to address identified weaknesses.
authors.affiliation: Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, Cambridge Health Alliance-Harvard Medical School, 120 Beacon Street, 4th floor, Somerville, MA 02143, USA. slapatin@charesearch.com
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lapatin
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nillni
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: Roxana Llerena
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alegría
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D011203:Poverty; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care