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Global Research Trends in Pediatric Trauma From 1968 to 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis
Tauseef Ahmad1,2, Linlin Hua3, Muhammad Khan4
1Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Insights
This bibliometric analysis reveals the United States dominates global pediatric trauma research output. Findings highlight key journals and authors, guiding future research and international collaboration in child injury prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric trauma research
- Bibliometrics
- Global health trends
Background:
- Millions of children worldwide die from preventable causes annually.
- Injuries are a leading cause of death and disability across all age groups under 60.
- Pediatric trauma remains a significant global health concern requiring focused research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate global research outcomes and trends in pediatric trauma.
- To identify key bibliometric indicators of scientific productivity and impact.
- To map the landscape of pediatric trauma research.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive bibliometric analysis was conducted.
- Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using "Pediatric AND Trauma" keywords.
- Bibliometric analysis and network visualization were performed using HistCite™ and VOSviewer software.
Main Results:
- 2,269 documents published between 1990 and 2021 were analyzed.
- The United States was the most dominant country, with 1,620 publications and 22,983 citations.
- The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery and Journal of Pediatric Surgery were the most prolific journals.
Conclusions:
- The United States leads global scientific research and funding in pediatric trauma.
- This study provides insights into research frontiers and achievements in the field.
- International collaborative research initiatives are crucial for advancing pediatric trauma care.
Abstract:
Introduction: Every year, millions of children die from preventable causes worldwide. According to World Health Organization, injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among all age groups below 60 years. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the global research outcomes and trends, and some key bibliometric indicators in pediatric trauma. Methods: A descriptive bibliometric analysis study was designed. On June 14, 2021, an electronic search was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection database using the potential searching keywords "Pediatric AND Trauma" in the title field without any limitations. The search was performed using the Boolean search query method. The data were downloaded in plaintext and comma-separated values format. The required graphs were generated using OriginPro 2018. Furthermore, the data were transferred to HistCite™ software for bibliometric analysis. In addition, the obtained data were plotted for network visualization mapping using VOSviewer software version 1.6.15 for windows. Results: A total of 2,269 documents were included in the final analysis. The included documents were authored by 7,894 authors and published in 395 research and academic journals, mainly in the English language (n = 2,222). The main document types were articles (n = 1,276, citations = 18,244), and meeting abstracts (n = 331, citations = 19). Pediatric (n = 2,269) and trauma (n = 2,257) were the most widely used keywords. The most productive year was 2019 (n = 184, citations = 527). The most prolific author was Upperman JS (n = 29, citations = 202). The most attractive journals in pediatric trauma research were The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (n = 290, citations = 5,199) and the Journal of Pediatric Surgery (n = 256, citations = 5,088). The most active institute was the University of California System (n = 110). The most dominant country was the United States of America (USA) (n = 1,620, citations = 22,983). The USA and Canada had the highest total link strength, 103 and 70, respectively. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of research output in pediatric trauma. The USA continues to dominate scientific research and funding in pediatric trauma. Findings of the current study will help the researchers and clinicians to understand the recent achievements and research frontiers. Collaborative research initiative needs to be established between institutions in developed and developing countries and among researchers.
