Data sharing in nursing research: advantages and challenges

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Data Science
• Scientific Communication

Background:

• Data sharing in nursing research is underexplored.
• Existing literature lacks focus on the benefits and challenges of data sharing among nurse investigators.
• The importance of data sharing for scientific advancement and efficiency is not widely recognized in the nursing field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the advantages of data sharing in nursing research, including enhanced scientific inquiry and reduced respondent burden.
• To identify critical issues that need to be addressed in data sharing agreements, such as data ownership, anonymity, and costs.
• To advocate for the normalization of data sharing practices within the nursing profession.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing arguments on research data sharing.
• Analysis of the implications of data sharing for primary investigators, secondary investigators, and data repositories.
• Discussion of the necessary conditions and infrastructures for successful data sharing.

Main Results:

• Data sharing offers significant benefits, including fostering open scientific inquiry and diverse perspectives.
• Key challenges to data sharing involve data ownership, respondent anonymity, and associated costs.
• Acknowledgement and reward for the efforts of original researchers are essential for promoting data sharing.

Conclusions:

• Research data, particularly from publicly funded projects, should be shared and deposited in accessible repositories.
• Nurse researchers must integrate data sharing plans into their research programs.
• Advocacy for the necessary infrastructures to support data sharing is crucial for the nursing profession.