A Bibliometric Analysis of QoR-15 Literature in Perioperative Recovery: Global Research Trends, Collaborations, and...

Background/Objectives: The 15-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR-15) is a widely adopted patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) in perioperative care. Although its validity and reliability have been confirmed across languages and surgical populations, no bibliometric analysis has systematically assessed its research impact, trends, and collaborative networks. Methods: We performed a bibliometric analysis of QoR-15 literature using the Scopus database (2013-June 2025). Eligible studies reporting on QoR-15 in perioperative or postoperative settings were included. Data were analyzed using VOS viewer (version 1.6.20) and CiteSpace (version 6.3) to evaluate co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, citation patterns, bibliographic coupling, and co-citation networks. Results: Of 366 records screened, 341 articles were included. A total of 1901 authors, 999 organizations, and 43 countries contributed to the development of the QoR-15 literature. China produced the most publications (n = 164, 952 citations), whereas Australia generated fewer papers (n = 16) but with the highest citation impact (1479 citations). The most cited article was Myles et al. (year 2018, 219 citations). Co-occurrence mapping highlighted clusters in translation/validation studies, enhanced recovery pathways, and regional anesthesia applications. CiteSpace cluster analysis revealed emerging research in opioid-free anesthesia, pediatric adaptations, and frailty populations. Conclusions: This first bibliometric analysis of QoR-15 literature demonstrates rapid global adoption, with substantial contributions from Asia and high-impact outputs from Australia and Europe. Trends indicate increasing use of QoR-15 in regional and opioid-sparing strategies, emergency surgery, and pediatric care. These findings highlight QoR-15 as a robust, patient-centered endpoint and provide direction for future perioperative and pain research.