ISPITS nursing thesis: standard structure, part by part

Are you in your final year at ISPITS (Morocco's higher institutes of nursing and health techniques) with your final-year thesis coming up? The first question is almost always the same: "Which structure should I follow?" Each institute has its own guide, but the structure is very similar from one ISPITS to another. Here is the most widely used standard structure, part by part, with what the jury expects in each.

In short: the ISPITS thesis follows the classic structure of nursing research: introduction, research problem, conceptual framework, methodology, results, discussion, then conclusion and recommendations. Most projects are quantitative descriptive or correlational studies carried out by questionnaire in hospitals.

Important: always check your own ISPITS writing guide and your supervisor's instructions. They take precedence over this model.

Overview of the structure

• Front matter (title page, dedication, acknowledgements, table of contents, lists of abbreviations, tables and figures)

• Introduction

• Research problem

• Conceptual framework (or literature review)

• Methodology

• Results

• Discussion

• Conclusion and recommendations

• References and appendices

1. The introduction

In one or two pages, it presents the theme, its importance for public health or for the profession (nurse, midwife, health technician…) and announces the structure. Use a few recent, sourced figures: WHO, Ministry of Health, Moroccan studies. Avoid generalities such as "health is a precious asset".

2. The research problem

This is the part the jury looks at most. It starts from the general observation and narrows down to the precise problem observed in the field (a department, a hospital, a category of patients). It ends with:

• the research question;

• the objectives (one general objective and 2 to 4 specific objectives);

• the hypotheses, if your study has any (common in analytical quantitative studies).

To write it step by step, read our guide how to write a research problem statement.

3. The conceptual framework

Here you define the key concepts of your topic (for example: postoperative pain, therapeutic education, quality of care) and summarize what existing studies say. Many nursing theses also rely on a nursing model or theory (Virginia Henderson, Dorothea Orem, etc.) when relevant.

Cite every borrowed idea, using a single citation style from start to finish. APA style is very often required: see our article on APA 7 style.

4. The methodology

This part should allow someone to repeat your study. It usually contains:

• Study type: descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical, qualitative…

• Place and period of the study.

• Population and sample: inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample size and sampling method. See how to calculate the sample size.

• Data collection tool: questionnaire, observation grid, interview guide. See designing a good questionnaire.

• Data collection procedure and pre-test.

• Data analysis: software used (SPSS, Excel, Jamovi…) and statistical tests.

• Ethical considerations: authorization from the hospital management, informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality.

5. The results

Present the results without commenting on them: numbered tables and charts, each followed by one or two sentences describing what can be seen. Start with the sample profile (age, sex, department…), then answer the objectives in order.

If you test a relationship between two categorical variables (for example knowledge level and length of service), the most common test is the chi-square test in SPSS.

6. The discussion

This is where you show your critical thinking. Compare your results with those of the studies cited in the conceptual framework: are they similar, different, and why? Check your hypotheses. End with the limitations of the study (sample size, a single hospital, response bias…).

7. Conclusion and recommendations

The conclusion recalls the initial question, the main results and the answer obtained. Recommendations, highly valued at ISPITS, are concrete and addressed to specific actors: nurses, heads of department, hospital management, the ministry, trainers.

How many pages for an ISPITS thesis?

The length depends on each institute's guide. As an indication, many bachelor's theses have about forty to sixty pages excluding appendices. What matters most is balance: the research problem, methodology and discussion must be solid.

Example ISPITS thesis topics

Topics most often concern professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) or the patient experience:

• nurses' knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention in intensive care;

• hand hygiene practices in a surgical department;

• inpatients' satisfaction with nursing care;

• treatment adherence of diabetic patients followed in a health center;

• occupational stress among emergency nurses.

To choose yours: how to choose a thesis or final-year project topic.

The most common statistical analyses

In a quantitative ISPITS thesis you often find descriptive statistics (frequencies, means), the chi-square test to cross two categorical variables (for example knowledge level by length of service), and sometimes correlation or linear regression. If you use a scale, check its reliability with Cronbach's alpha.

Preparing the ISPITS thesis defense

The defense is prepared as for any thesis: a clear presentation and prepared answers. See defense PowerPoint presentation and thesis defense questions.

Frequently asked questions

Does the ISPITS thesis have to be quantitative?

No. Quantitative studies (questionnaires) are the most common, but a qualitative interview study is possible if it answers your question better. Check with your supervisor.

Do I need permission to collect data in a hospital?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. Plan a request for authorization from the institution's management and obtain participants' consent. Mention it in the methodology.

Which software should I use to analyze the data?

SPSS is the most widely used in health institutes. Excel is enough for simple descriptive statistics. Our SPSS course is designed for theses.

Is the ISPITS thesis done alone or in a group?

It depends on the program and the year: some institutes require work in pairs or small groups. Follow your institute's instructions.

Support designed for health students

Data Académique supports students from ISPITS and health institutes across Morocco: framing the research problem, methodology, SPSS analysis, proofreading and defense preparation. Discover our thesis support or contact us on WhatsApp.