The State and Trends in the Field of Hospital Communication

Communication is recognized by the scientific community as one of the most important elements in the success of organizations. In hospital settings, communication is also key for all those involved in patient care, both at a strategic and operational level. This article aims to analyze the current research front on the application and impact of communication in hospitals among healthcare professionals and/or patients and their families, presenting the foundation, current structure and trends in academic research in this area through bibliometric analysis using performance and impact metrics, bibliographic co-citation and keyword co-occurrence analysis. A total of 566 articles from the WoS Core Collection published between 2012 and 2024 were analyzed. This is an area of growing interest but with a still limited impact. Collaborative networks show little synergy between international institutions, with the USA being the country with the greatest predominance and influence. A key finding is the scientific systematization of the origins of knowledge into four dimensions: doctor-patient communication; improving communication by reducing barriers; communication in patient transitions and discharges; and the methodologies used in this field. Current key research topics include communication between healthcare professionals and patients and/or relatives, patient safety, quality improvement, and as an emerging trend, parents and communication skills. This study aims to provide researchers in the field, hospital organizations, and policymakers with an overview of research directions and a valuable source of knowledge for defining new research lines, institutional strategies, and policies to improve patient safety.