Using written vignettes in focus groups among older adults to discuss oral health as a sensitive topic

When the mouth yields pain and distress, it can impact psychosocially the lives of older adults and might constitute a sensitive topic for open disclosure. In this article, we describe our use of a written vignette in focus groups for discussion of oral health and disablement. Six focus groups were conducted with 42 older men and women with an average age of 75 years who were purposefully selected through advertisements posted in community centers and retirement homes. In discussions lasting for an average of 90 min, groups of up to 9 participants commented positively and negatively on the vignette's story and voluntarily discussed their personal experiences, family histories, and testimonies about the mouth and coping and adapting strategies to disabilities. The discussion about oral health can be sensitive, but the vignette shifted the focus away from the participants and allowed them to share personal experiences with oral health and disablement.