Medical Education Research in Japanese Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2014-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis

To describe the characteristics of medical education research in Japanese obstetrics and gynecology and identify gaps in themes, target populations, and patterns of international collaboration.

We conducted a bibliometric review of English-language articles indexed in PubMed from January 2014 to December 2024. We included peer-reviewed original articles, reviews, and letters whose first author was an obstetrics and gynecology professional affiliated with a Japanese institution and whose primary focus was education of medical students, junior/senior residents, or attending physicians. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted publication characteristics including publication trends, research themes, target populations, and international co-authorship. Annual trends were assessed with the Mann-Kendall test and quantified using the Theil-Sen slope.

Of 61 records screened, 28 articles met inclusion criteria: 21 original articles, one review, and six letters or commentaries. The number of publications increased over time; however, the annual trend was not statistically significant (0.38 articles per year; p = 0.065). Surgical skills training (32.1%) and simulation-based education (21.4%) were the most frequent themes. Senior residents were the most commonly studied population (82.1%), followed by attending physicians (46.4%), junior residents (21.4%), and medical students (17.9%). No article reported international co-authorship.

Medical education research output in Japanese obstetrics and gynecology was modest and concentrated on surgical skills training and simulation-based education for senior residents, with minimal attention to earlier learner stages, nontechnical competencies, or international collaboration. These baseline data may inform strategic investment in broader educational themes, target populations, and partnerships.