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 underrepresented 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.