{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T09:52:50Z","timestamp":1774605170971,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]],"date-time":"2026-03-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774224000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":22,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,1]],"date-time":"2026-03-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772323200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J of Nursing Scholarship"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Doctoral research in nursing is central to advancing scientific knowledge, strengthening professional identity, and informing evidence\u2010based 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\u2010country analysis has examined the thematic focus of such work.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A document\u2010based qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis, as outlined by Braun and Clarke, to examine patterns of meaning within thesis summaries.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants and Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>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\u2010phase framework, supported by MAXQDA software for data management and coding.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>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\u2010centred care; emotional, psychological, and quality\u2010of\u2010life 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\u2010cutting elements such as cultural sensitivity and resilience spanned multiple themes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This cross\u2010national 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\u2010centred, and evidence\u2010informed solutions, and underscore the value of international collaboration in shaping resilient, equitable, and future\u2010ready healthcare systems.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/jnu.70077","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T04:50:53Z","timestamp":1774327853000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Nursing Doctoral Theses Across Eight Countries: A Document\u2010Based Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"58","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0131-0815","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nertila","family":"Podgorica","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science and Gerontology, Institute of Nursing Science UMIT TIROL\u2013Private 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Hua","family":"Shao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Northumbria University  Newcastle UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5689-1223","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Helena","family":"de Rezende","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Scoil Altranais Agus Cn\u00e1imhseachais\/School of Nursing and Midwifery, D\u00e1mh an Oideachais Agus Na nEola\u00edochta\u00ed Sl\u00e1inte\/Faculty of Education and Health Sciences Ollscoil Luimnigh\/University of Limerick  Limerick Ireland"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0091-7524","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dhurata","family":"Ivziku","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Professions Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio\u2010Medico  Rome 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