Bibliometric Analysis of Immigrants' Health Education: Research Status, Evolution, and Trends with CiteSpace

Immigrants' health education (IHE) plays a critical role in improving the health status of immigrant populations, reducing public health risks, and promoting social integration. Over the past decade, IHE has emerged as a prominent research topic, with numerous studies exploring its specific characteristics; however, comprehensive overviews remain scarce. A detailed and systematic synthesis is needed to better understand the knowledge structure, thematic evolution, current research hotspots, and emerging trends in IHE.

A bibliometric approach was adopted to analyze the knowledge structure, collaborative relationships, research status, and developmental trends in IHE. CiteSpace was used as the tool; the study further constructed a comprehensive knowledge framework for IHE, identifying future research directions and enhancing understanding of the field.

IHE research has developed rapidly, with 2984 publications over the past 20 years. Despite the complexity of regional and institutional collaborations, the United States has taken a leading role, accounting for 1196 regional collaborations with a centrality score of 0.2. Institutionally, the University of California System led with 196 collaborations. Journals with high co-citation frequencies generally showed higher impact factors; for instance, Social Science & Medicine was co-cited 1212 times with an impact factor (IF) of 5.2, and only two of the top ten journals had a 5-year IF below 3. IHE research includes medicine, education, and public health. The emergence of keywords such as "social determinants of health", "overweight", and "health equity" highlights the field's increasing specialization.

Over the past twenty years, IHE publications have increased significantly, spanning various journal categories and journals. While institutional and regional collaborations were relatively strong, the authors conducted research independently. The findings indicate that IHE remains rich in research opportunities. Moreover, the results of this study offer a theoretical foundation for policymakers and a guide for advancing interdisciplinary practices in IHE.