Nursing Doctoral Theses Across Eight Countries: A Document‐Based Qualitative Study

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BACKGROUND: Doctoral research in nursing is central to advancing scientific knowledge, strengthening professional identity, and informing evidence-based practice, education, and health policy. Analyzing the thematic content of doctoral theses offers insight into research priorities and national variations in nursing scholarship. Yet, no systematic cross-country analysis has examined the thematic focus of such work. OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe the diversity and scope of doctoral nursing research themes across eight countries in the Sigma Europe Region, identifying key areas of scholarly focus and shared priorities. DESIGN: A document-based qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis, as outlined by Braun and Clarke, to examine patterns of meaning within thesis summaries. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study included doctoral nursing thesis summaries defended between January 2020 and December 2023, sourced from national and institutional repositories in eight countries of the Sigma Europe Region. A total of 15 repositories (4 national, 11 institutional) were systematically searched, and additional summaries were obtained via direct contact with universities offering doctoral nursing programmes. METHODS: Data were collected between September 2024 and February 2025 using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. In total, 431 eligible thesis summaries were analyzed following Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework, supported by MAXQDA software for data management and coding. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified three overarching domains: (1) foundations of nursing practice and care philosophy, (2) systemic and organizational dimensions of nursing, and (3) clinical innovation and public health impact. Ten interrelated themes emerged, including holistic and patient-centred care; emotional, psychological, and quality-of-life dimensions; communication in healthcare; workforce challenges; transforming nursing practice; maternal, neonatal and pediatric health; digital and virtual health innovations; public health and chronic disease management; and disease management, caregiving, and outcomes. Cross-cutting elements such as cultural sensitivity and resilience spanned multiple themes. CONCLUSION: This cross-national synthesis demonstrates the breadth and depth of doctoral nursing research in the Sigma Europe Region. Findings highlight nursing's pivotal role in addressing healthcare needs through innovative, person-centred, and evidence-informed solutions, and underscore the value of international collaboration in shaping resilient, equitable, and future-ready healthcare systems.

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