Secondary analysis is common with qualitative—numerical—data in which the original data set [5] is re-analyzed for new insights [6]. Less frequent is the re-evaluation of quantitative—textual—data given their inherent subjective nature [7]. However, an original compilation of textual data [8] can be re-interpreted to unravel new understandings [9]. And that is what we hope to accomplish with this Data note. Between 2015/16 and 2018/19 [10], we have asked undergraduate dental students at the UBC to reflect on issues of stigma and discrimination towards substance use and mental health disorders as a socially responsible provider [11,12,13]. These anonymous reflections were prompted by an educational vignette posed during a 2.5 h didactic session [3]—please see a suggested methodological approach to generate reflection data [14].
We have gathered 148 anonymous reflections ranging from 202 to 405 characters each, leading to more than 284 double-spaced pages of text. We present the reflection data according to the five major ideas that might or might not coincide with the readers’ take on the raw data:
Vignettes in undergraduate education
This file may attest for the value of a vignette to generate discussion within an undergraduate classroom. The reader may also appreciate how vignettes present themselves as an alternative way to facilitate the discussion of sensitive issues that emerge from lack of knowledge and awareness [15].
Vignette to explore stigma and mental health disorders
In this file, the reader can understand mental health disorders as the most often stigmatized conditions [16, 17]. However, issues of stigma based on other characteristics or traits may also surface [18,19,20,21,22].
The interplay of Link & Phelan’s stigma framework
This file shows how the vignette helped students to discuss Link & Phelan’s framework on stigma [23]. The reader might explore how labels become the basis for stereotypes as they set into action negative images about certain conditions and individuals [24, 25]
Patient-centered care approach to counteract stigma
The textual data in this file may counteract stereotypes and labels about certain patients once health professionals consider patients’ history and environmental, societal and personal factors. Such consideration falls within a patient-centred care approach [26, 27]
Not a one-size-fits-all use of the vignette
This file gives the reader the opportunity to explore how the vignette might have not engaged students into the discussions [8]. It might also point out to the fact the vignette may not have offered sufficient information about the patient [28, 29].