3D printing technologies in nursing research: A bibliometric and content analysis

3D printing in healthcare offers new possibilities for advancing clinical practice, education, and patient-centered care. In nursing, its adoption is increasing, with notable implications for training and service delivery.

This study aimed to examine publication trends, research characteristics, and thematic patterns related to 3D printing technologies in nursing.

A bibliometric and qualitative content analysis was conducted on 21 publications indexed in the Web of Science database. Biblioshiny and VOSviewer were used to analyze publication trends, countries, keywords, and collaboration patterns, while thematic coding was applied to identify core themes and subthemes.

The findings demonstrate that 3D printing contributes to nursing by enhancing learning efficiency, supporting skill development, improving workflow organization, strengthening communication, and promoting care quality and patient comfort in both educational and clinical contexts.

This review highlights the growing and multifaceted role of 3D printing in nursing and offers evidence-based insights to inform future research, education, and clinical practice.