Mapping the knowledge utilization field in nursing from 1945 to 2004: a bibliometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Knowledge Management
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Knowledge utilization field faces challenges: imprecise terminology, focus on product over process, and limited interdisciplinary collaboration.
• A comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge utilization in nursing is needed to address existing gaps.
• Nursing knowledge utilization requires a clearer definition and a process-oriented approach for advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the literature of knowledge utilization in nursing as an international field.
• To identify the structure of the scientific community within nursing knowledge utilization.
• To provide a comprehensive picture of the current state of the field.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 433 articles published between 1945 and 2004.
• Mapping the international field of nursing knowledge utilization.
• Identifying the structure of the scientific community.

Main Results:

• Significant growth and increased interest in nursing knowledge utilization observed recently.
• The scientific community structure within this field is dynamic and evolving.
• A majority of relevant journals are not indexed in the Web of Science.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing the accessibility and visibility of nursing knowledge utilization literature is crucial.
• Increased indexing of nursing journals in the Web of Science is recommended.
• Collaborative efforts are needed to improve the profile of nursing's scientific literature.