A survey of current practices in data management education in nursing doctoral programs

Abstract

Background: The inclusion of data management instruction within nursing doctoral curricula has not been systematically examined.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of data management education within nursing doctoral programs.

Method: Separate surveys were created for DNP (332) and PhD (138) program directors. Survey questions were based on the stages of the UK Data Service Research Data Lifecycle.

Results: One hundred and four nursing doctoral program directors responded, a 22% response rate. Sixty-seven (64%) were from DNP programs while 37 (35%) were from PhD programs. Although program directors reported that they were teaching stages of the research data lifecycle, data management is mostly being taught through individual mentoring or a single lecture within a required course, and that students' project data were not being preserved.

Conclusions: Nursing doctoral programs need to develop consistent data management education, build an awareness of data policies, and clarify student project data sharing and ownership.

Keywords: Data lifecycle; Data management; Nursing doctoral education.