Assessment of nursing MSc theses and their levels of evidence

Nursing theses are one of the most important sources to provide knowledge and evidence for nursing practice. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the status of research outcomes of nursing MSc theses and their levels of evidence. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. All MSc nursing theses conducted from 1381 to 1390 in Mashhad Nursing and Midwifery School were investigated. The articles extracted from these theses were studied as well. These articles were evaluated in terms of their levels of evidence and type of journal in which they were published. Out of 92 theses conducted in this period, 70 articles were published. 39 percent of these theses were in level 6 (descriptive, quantitative, and cross sectional), 38 percent were in level 4 (case-control and cohort studies) and 23 percent were in level 2 (randomized controlled trial). Comparisons between the first five years and the second five years regarding the study type showed that 38 percent and 77 percent of these theses were experimental and quasi-experimental studies in the first and second periods, respectively. Also 41 percent of the theses were published in journals in the first period whereas this number increased to 82 percent in second period. The results showed that the methodology of nursing MSc theses has moved toward clinical interventions and important nursing challenges and their resulting articles have been published in more scientific journals. Given the importance of evidence-based practice, it is necessary to develop individual and organizational mechanisms for promoting the levels of evidence in nursing research.