Top 100 most cited articles on Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREM): insights and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Research
• Bibliometrics
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Patient experience is crucial for Patient-Centered Care (PCC).
• Previous bibliometric studies have explored PCC aspects, but a comprehensive analysis of Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREM) is needed to understand their clinical impact.
• This study analyzes the most cited PREM articles to identify critical research and trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most-cited PREM articles.
• To identify critical studies and emerging trends in PREM research.
• To provide an overview of global PREM research.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of the Web of Science database was performed to identify the 100 most cited PREM articles.
• Data extracted included study design, sample size, topic, citations, authorship, country, publication year, journal, and PREM instrument dimensions.
• VOSviewer software was utilized to create bibliometric network visualizations.

Main Results:

• The top 100 PREM articles ranged from 20 to 775 citations, with 21 articles exceeding 100 citations.
• The majority of articles (45%) originated from the USA, and all were published in English.
• Cross-sectional study designs (69%) were most prevalent, with the impact of treatment (44%) being the most common topic. Customized PREM questionnaires and HCAHPS were frequently used instruments.

Conclusions:

• The field of PREM research is not saturated, indicating ample room for future studies.
• Current research predominantly focuses on developed countries; future work should include underdeveloped and developing nations.
• Recommendations for future research include longitudinal studies in special populations and research in day-care and outpatient settings.