Refining search and keyword strategies in autoimmune ear disease bibliometric studies

This study focuses on the search strategies used in bibliometric analyses within the field of autoimmune ear diseases, critically examining ways to improve search accuracy and relevance. Using the study by Liu et al. as an example, we found that the extensive search terms employed resulted in the inclusion of numerous irrelevant studies, weakening the specificity of the research findings. To address this issue, we propose a more precise search strategy using a combination of specific terms and wildcard symbols to ensure the search scope focuses on literature related to autoimmune ear diseases. Additionally, we recommend limiting search terms to titles, abstracts, and author keywords to reduce interference from unrelated literature. Moreover, we identify potential errors in keyword analysis caused by unmerged synonyms and suggest optimizing the accuracy of keyword co-occurrence analysis through synonym merging. This study aims to provide a more reliable methodological guide for future bibliometric analyses, thereby improving the quality and scientific rigor of research on autoimmune ear diseases.