Recent Trends in Doctoral Theses in Nursing Across Eight Countries: A Scoping Review

To explore and map the landscape of doctoral nursing research across eight countries.

A scoping review.

This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and included doctoral theses in nursing defended between 2020 and 2023 in Austria, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

Searches were conducted across 15 national and university repositories (4 national, 11 university) in the eight participating countries.

This review included 431 doctoral nursing theses, the majority of which employed quantitative methodologies and focused on patient populations and healthcare professionals. Key topics included clinical nursing care, quality of care, quality of life, home care, perinatal care and the work environments.

Nursing doctoral research shows progress in healthcare delivery, patient care and education via digital tools, holistic approaches and professional development. Yet gaps persist in mental health, paediatrics and marginalised groups. Limited qualitative/mixed-methods research and weak interdisciplinary collaboration reveal further opportunities.

This review underscores that nursing doctoral research is addressing major healthcare and professional challenges. Nonetheless, the identified gaps emphasise the need for more comprehensive and inclusive research to enhance equity and guide future nursing practices and policies.

This review provides an overview of the scope of doctoral nursing research across eight countries, identifying key trends and research gaps. The findings are expected to inform nursing academia, policymakers, and healthcare professionals by guiding future research priorities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting equitable, patient-centred care practices.

No direct involvement in data collection; one lay reviewer gave feedback on readability and practice implications, informing minor refinements.