Identify the Dimensions and Provide an Appropriate Model for Research Data Management in Medical Sciences in 7thCountry Zones

The purpose of this study was to identify the dimensions effective for research data management in medical universities in 7th country Zone.

The present research is an analytical survey that was conducted in 2020 in the university libraries of medical sciences in 7th country Zone. The data of the qualitative section were collected by a structured questionnaire by Delphi-fuzzy method and the data of the quantitative section were the result of the qualitative section and a researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect them. The statistical population of the study included 127 librarians of medical universities in 7th country Zone. In a small part of descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis tests were used to present the research model and structural equation modeling technique.

The average factor loads of all data management components were higher than 0.8 and acceptable. With a 99% confidence in the good fit of the 12-component measurement models (infrastructure; regulatory role; reuse; budget; organization; intelligence services; sharing; training and updating; distribution and dissemination; policy-making; storage and preservation; data content protection) were recorded. The results of t-test in a small part showed that there was a significant difference (t value = 80.50) between the desired and existing status of data management in the libraries of medical universities of 7th country Zone.

The state of data management in university libraries of medical sciences (7th country Zone) faces challenges in achieving organizational goals; therefore, paying attention to and strengthening the various dimensions identified by this research in data management will provide the basis for achieving organizational and research goals and improving the level of medical education and health activities in medical universities.