Laura Serrant

Silence

Screaming silences: lessons from the application of a new research framework

Background The Silences Framework ( Serrant-Green 2011 ) originated from research exploring ethnicity, gender and sexual health decision-making, and provides a useful tool for researching under-represented groups and topics. Aim To present the lessons learned from the application of the Silences Framework in the context of a qualitative study exploring the experiences of people under the age of 60 recovering from a fragility hip fracture. Discussion The authors explore current conceptions of marginalisation in healthcare with reference to nursing research and provide practical tips for others interested in applying and further testing the framework. Conclusion The framework is likely to be attractive to nurses as it is underpinned by core nursing values, such as advocacy-based action. It places participant and public voices at the centre of the research and resembles the familiar nursing process. The structure and flexibility it offers also makes it relevant for new and experienced researchers in a variety of contexts. Implications for practice Critical analysis of the initial application of the Silences Framework in a different setting to the one in which it was developed indicates it offers a beneficial addition to the research toolkit. Its limited use to date means its relevance for nursing and potential for further development have not yet been fully established. It should be tested more widely and in other contexts.

HIV drug

Sex, PrEP and the moral backlash

A High Court decision on the funding of a drug that prevents HIV has been condemned for encouraging hedonistic behaviour by gay men. The row shows that the prejudice of the 1980s lingers on.

Ensuring diversity among community nursing leaders

When Laura Serrant trained in the early 1980s, she heard that some patients did not want to be touched by ‘that black nurse’. Here, she asks how much things have changed.