Identifying the Knowledge Structure and Trends of Nursing Informatics: A Text Network Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Health Information Systems
• Digital Health

Background:

• The information age has increased the importance of digital health technologies.
• Nursing informatics emerged to improve healthcare information management and communication.
• Understanding the evolution of nursing informatics research is crucial for future advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the knowledge structure of nursing informatics.
• To analyze research trends in nursing informatics over time.
• To understand the evolution of core topics and keywords in the field.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative analysis using text network analysis.
• Analysis of 14,225 studies published up to 2020.
• Identification and analysis of core keywords, topics, and their changes over time.

Main Results:

• Core keywords identified: 'patient,' 'health,' 'system,' and 'information.'
• Strengthened networks observed between 'information,' 'communication,' and 'technology.'
• Emerging research keywords include 'patient safety' and 'quality,' indicating a shift towards technology-focused nursing education.

Conclusions:

• Nursing informatics research demonstrates a growing emphasis on patient safety and quality.
• The findings underscore the increasing importance of nursing education in technology and systems development.
• The study provides a systematic understanding of nursing informatics research, highlighting its expanding role in healthcare.