Tracing Evolution of Hotspots and Frontiers: A Bibliometric Exploration of Acupuncture Therapy in Irritable Bowel
Yongqi Du1, Haiyan Xu2, Jun Xiong3
1Graduate School, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Acupuncture therapy is widely utilized globally to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with promising outcomes. However, in recent years, bibliometric analyses have yet to be performed. Consequently, this paper aims to comprehensively analyze the literature from the past 20 years using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Excel to identify research hotspots and predict future trends.
Methods:
A bibliometric search on acupuncture therapy for IBS was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection, covering 2004 to 2024. The bibliometric analysis included examining annual publications, countries, authors, cited authors, institutions, journals, cited journals, cited references, and keywords. CiteSpace 6.3.R1, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and Microsoft Excel 2021 facilitated this analysis by creating a knowledge mapping.
Results:
A total of 128 papers were included in the final analysis, revealing a general upward trend in annual publications. The predominant type of literature identified was articles. China exhibited the highest centrality of published articles. Wu Huangan emerged as the most prolific author, while Drossman DA had the most cited publications. The Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was identified as the most productive institution. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine published the most relevant articles, whereas Gastroenterology was the most frequently cited journal. The article Pei LX (2020) was the most cited reference, and Chao GQ (2014) had the highest centrality among cited references. Keyword analysis identified research hotspots focused on clinical symptoms (especially abdominal pain) and gut-related mechanisms. Furthermore, keyword burst analysis revealed that visceral hypersensitivity and gut microbiota are key research frontiers, indicating recent surges in scientific interest.
Conclusion:
This study analyzed the literature on acupuncture therapy for IBS by bibliometric methods, revealing its current status and research hotspots and providing a reference for researchers to conduct more in-depth studies in the field.
