Background Storytelling is a contemporary research method increasingly used in qualitative interpretive research. Despite its popularity, there is a paucity of information providing detailed processes for conducting storytelling research that also incorporates a feminist perspective.

Aim To provide a four-stage framework for conducting feminist storytelling research.

Discussion Systematic approaches or frameworks can help researchers conducting feminist storytelling studies. The authors discuss a framework for the sequential process of conducting storytelling research that embraces the tenets of feminist standpoint theory. This four-staged framework consists of the steps taken to prepare for the collection and analysis of data, as well as to disseminate the research’s findings, from etic (procedural) and emic (feminist) perspectives. The authors demonstrate the use of the framework by applying it to a study of mothering.

Conclusion Use of a purposeful approach to feminist storytelling research may increase its auditability and verification.

Implications for practice The authors anticipate that the framework can be adapted into an effective tool to support researchers interested in conducting feminist storytelling research.

<p>Aim To describe strategies that can enhance the recruitment of rural-dwelling older people into clinical trials.</p> <p>Background Recruitment to studies can be time-consuming and challenging. Moreover, there are challenges associated with recruiting older people, particularly those living in rural areas. Nevertheless, an adequate sample size is crucial to the validity of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).</p> <p>Data sources The authors draw on the literature and their personal experiences, to present a range of flexible and inclusive strategies that have been successfully used to recruit older people into clinical trials.</p> <p>Review methods This paper describes attempts to improve recruitment of rural-dwelling, older Thai people to a clinical trial.</p> <p>Discussion To attract potential participants, researchers should consider minimising the burden of their study and maximising its benefits or convenience for participants. Three factors that may influence participation rates are: personal factors of participants, researchers’ personal attributes, and protocol factors. In addition, three important strategies contribute to improving recruitment: understanding the culture of the research setting, identifying the ‘gatekeepers’ in the setting and building trust with stakeholders.</p> <p>Conclusion Even though the study covered did not recruit a large number of participants, these understandings were crucial and enabled recruitment of a sufficient number of participants in a reasonable timeframe.</p> <p>Implications for practice/research These strategies may be of use in rural settings and with different communities including urban communities.</p>

Aim To reflect on the potential of blogs to enhance engagement with research, create a dialogue between researchers and nurses, and provide feedback to researchers.

Background Blogs can create opportunities to share ideas, provide an arena for interaction, and rapidly and effectively initiate dialogue and feedback on research.

Data sources This paper draws on analysis of comments on a blog post about the findings of a peer-reviewed journal article.

Review methods Content analysis of web blog discussion.

Discussion It is unclear if the readers of the blog would have accessed this article any other way. Therefore, posting research findings on a blog can engage a new audience of nurses and provide a way to feed back comments and responses to researchers. This highlights the potential value of online forums for ‘knowledge translation’ and draws attention to virtual collegiality, which can provide a way for nurses in diverse locations to share their experiences and ideas, and gain support and information.

Conclusion Research findings were brought to life through the participation of blog commenters, who validated findings reported in the research.

Implications for practice/research Given the rapid uptake of social media, it is inevitable that it will become an increasingly important feature of research. This paper demonstrates how the nexus can occur between more formal social enquiry and less formal engagement in critique and knowledge translation. The authors argue that the rapid uptake and exchange of information through social media can provide an indication of the social relevance of the research.