Global trends of digital health technologies in patient navigation: A bibliometric and visual analysis from 2005 to...

To reveal the global development status of the application of digital health technologies (DHT) in patient navigation (PN) and delineate the main research hotspots and trends.

We retrieved literature published between 2005 and 2024 from Scopus database and the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and conducted the analysis using the Bibliometrix package in R software.

A total of 982 publications from Scopus database and 692 publications from WoSCC were analyzed, revealing an overall increasing trend. The United States leads in publication volume, followed by Canada, Australia, and China. The core focus is on cancer screening and detection, with ongoing emphasis on mental health, care coordination, and primary care, underscoring the importance of patient-centered services and multidisciplinary collaboration. In recent years, keywords such as "digital health" and "health equity" have become increasingly common, reflecting the accelerated translation of technological applications and a growing emphasis on narrowing health disparities. However, the persistent digital divide risks excluding the vulnerable populations most in need of PN services from these technological dividends. This highlights the necessity for further research in this domain.

This study systematically analyzes the research trends of DHT in PN from 2005 to 2024, highlighting core research directions and proposing future research priorities. The results indicate that this field is continuously evolving, ultimately aiming to enhance healthcare accessibility, optimize system efficiency, and improve patient health outcomes.