Knowledge Mapping and Global Trends in Simulation in Medical Education: Bibliometric and Visual Analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• Simulation-based teaching is increasingly recognized as vital in medical education.
• Research in this field has experienced rapid development and expansion.
• Understanding global trends and research dynamics is crucial for future advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze bibliometric and visualization data of simulation-based teaching in medical education from 2004 to 2024.
• To identify research hotspots, development trends, and key contributors in the field.
• To map the knowledge landscape and collaboration patterns.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric and visualization analyses of 6743 core journal articles (2004-2024).
• Utilized CiteSpace and VOSviewer for data analysis.
• Examined publication trends, country/institution contributions, author output, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst analysis.

Main Results:

• Annual publications surged from under 100 (2004-2008) to a peak of 850 in 2024.
• Top contributing countries: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, China. Harvard University was a major research hub.
• Key research hotspots included cardiopulmonary resuscitation and surgical education. Emerging frontiers: 3D printing, augmented reality, and simulation training.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based teaching in medical education is a significant and expanding research area.
• Future research should prioritize interinstitutional collaboration.
• Focus on integrating emerging technologies like 3D printing and AR into simulation training is recommended.