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Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
Published on: October 24, 2019
Research methodologies in palliative care: a bibliometric analysis.
1International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. s.a.payne@lancaster.ac.uk
Palliative Medicine
|June 11, 2008
Summary
High-quality palliative care research faces challenges due to diverse methodologies. This study analyzes 318 publications, revealing varied approaches that enrich understanding of end-of-life care.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care Research
- End-of-Life Care Studies
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Designing high-quality palliative care research remains a significant challenge.
- Published research in palliative care exhibits diverse methodologies.
- Defining 'high quality' in palliative care research is complex due to this heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the nature of research methodologies in published palliative care research.
- To analyze trends and characteristics of palliative care research output.
- To explore the implications of methodological diversity for the field.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of the Medline database (1997-2006).
- Keywords used: 'palliative care' or 'end-of-life care' and 'research methodology'.
- Bibliometric analysis of identified publications.
Main Results:
- Over 318 publications were identified from 27 countries, distributed across 108 journals.
- An incremental increase in published palliative care research outputs was observed annually.
- Significant heterogeneity in research methodologies and publication venues was noted.
Conclusions:
- The diversity in palliative care research methodologies challenges the establishment of a single disciplinary paradigm.
- Acknowledging differing epistemological and theoretical frameworks enriches the understanding of end-of-life experiences.
- This methodological diversity, while challenging, contributes to a broader comprehension of dying in contemporary society.
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