Benchmarking European Nursing Research Published in 2020 in Leading Nursing Journals: A Bibliometric Study

Nursing research plays a critical role in advancing evidence-based practice and improving patient outcomes. This study analysed the geographical distribution, methodological characteristics, reporting practices, and funding patterns of European nursing research published in Q1 nursing journals in 2020.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted on original articles published in the first quartile (Q1) of the 2020 Journal Impact Factor. Inclusion required at least one author to be affiliated with an institution in one of the 46 Council of Europe member states. The study assessed author affiliations, units of analysis, participant types, research design, reporting, and funding.

Of the 4911 identified records, 1618 articles met the inclusion criteria. The United Kingdom had the most author affiliations (N=420; 20%). Seven countries appeared in at least 5% of the articles, whereas 15 out of 46 European countries were not represented at all. Most studies focused on people (N=1236; 76%) and were primary research (N=1304; 81%), with observational designs being the most common. Only 38% of articles mentioned a reporting guideline, with PRISMA cited most frequently (N=220; 14%). Funding was predominantly non-commercial (N=739; 46%).

The study revealed notable geographic imbalances in European nursing research and a strong reliance on observational designs, highlighting the need for methodological diversity and more inclusive research participation across Europe.