title: The role of sociocultural information in mental health intake sessions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinicians are advised to provide culturally competent care but little is known about how this directive translates into clinical practice. we investigated how this directive was implemented by describing how clinicians utilize sociocultural (SC) information, and how it impacts the clinical encounter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in clinics in the Northeast of the U.S. Clients (N=129) and clinicians (N=47) participated in three components of the study: videotaping of the clinical intake, a qualitative interview, and reporting on sociodemographics. thematic analysis of interviews was conducted using NVivo7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinicians used sociocultural information to understand clients' clinical presentation; inform diagnosis; differentiate psychopathology from contextual circumstances that influence behavior; create empathy; and individuate clients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the study only included data from public clinics, the results may not generalize to other settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrating SC information appears critical to client engagement and to bonding between client and clinician, particularly for diverse populations utilizing public clinics.
authors: Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, Cambridge Health Alliance, Somerville, MA, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Margarita
authors: M
authors: Alegría
authors: Arlene
authors: A
authors: Katz
authors: Rachel Zack
authors: RZ
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Yaminette
authors: Y
authors: Diaz-Linhart
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Valentine
authors: Sheri
authors: S
authors: Lapatin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England / Q000208:ethnology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research