A Bibliometric Analysis of Chronic Pain Research in Nursing: Trends and Themes

Öz

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of nursing research on chronic pain, with the aim of identifying publication trends, thematic structures, influential contributors, and underexplored areas in the literature.

Methods: This descriptive bibliometric study employed performance analysis and science mapping. A total of 1.538 documents were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on 10 September 2024. Bibliometric analysis was carried out using the Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer to explore the intellectual, conceptual, and social structures of the field. Analytical techniques included co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic mapping.

Results: The annual scientific production demonstrated a 9.43% growth rate, with international collaborations represented in 12.87% of the publications. The average number of citations per article was 22.07. Key motor themes included chronic pain management, palliative care, and neuropathic pain. Depression and chronic pain were identified as basic but underdeveloped themes. Opioid use and nursing education emerged as niche topics, while abuse and nursing diagnosis were classified as emerging or declining themes.

Conclusion: Nursing research on chronic pain has grown considerably, particularly since the 2010s. While well-established clinical themes dominate the field, there remain significant gaps in areas such as mental health integration, opioid safety, and nursing education. Addressing these gaps may strengthen the evidence base for nursing practice and enhance chronic pain management outcomes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Chronic pain
• Nursing
• Bibliometric analysis
• Pain management

Kaynakça

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