Thematic Analysis of Nursing MSc Theses: a Necessity to Improve the Quality of Nursing Postgraduate Courses

Theses as an important part of postgraduate curriculum have a significant role in preparation and empowerment of graduates to participate in research activities. Therefore, proper directions and appropriate use of this opportunity to develop knowledge and special expertise are of great value. The present study aimed to carry out a thematic analysis of nursing MSc theses. This descriptive study examined all of the nursing theses written at Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery (221 theses) during two ten-year periods. Research tool was a researcher-made checklist which examined the theses in terms of the year, title, methodology, and research orientations. Its validity and reliability were verified by content validity and inter-rater assessment respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings indicated that the theses were oriented towards the effects of therapeutic interventions on patients’ problems and their improvements (38.9%); setting of norms, needs, problems of patients and their families (14%); impact of education on knowledge, attitude, and performance of nurses, patients and their families (11.8%); assessment of patients and nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and performance (8.1%); description of the situation and quality of care and nursing services (7.7%), performance, reviews and description of diseases, their complications, prevalence and incidence, and characteristics of patients (7.2%). Finally, there were significant differences in research orientations between the two decades. The results showed that nursing MSc theses lacked a specific orientation and were outside the nursing scope in numerous cases. Therefore, it is necessary that Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery, while seriously considering this issue, defines research directions which fit their situation and regional needs.