Citizen Science in Healthcare: A Bibliometric Analysis

Citizen science involves public participation in scientific research, ranging from data collection to analysis and problem-solving. In healthcare, it often manifests as patient participation in research, potentially accelerating discoveries and aligning research with patient needs.

To understand the landscape of patient participation in scientific research, we conducted a bibliometric analysis focusing on articles related to patient participation in PubMed.

Methodology

We used the following data sources and methods:

1. PubMed: The largest database of biomedical literature
2. OpenAlex: An open-source bibliometric catalogue that provides additional thematic information
3. Research Organization Registry (ROR): For identifying research organizations

Key Findings

Growth in Patient Participation Research

This graph shows the evolution of articles related to patient participation over time. We observe a clear upward trend in volume, indicating growing interest in this field. However, the proportion relative to all published papers has remained relatively stable.

Geographical Distribution

This map illustrates the geographical distribution of patient participation research. The United States and the United Kingdom dominate, but we also see significant contributions from other countries, particularly in Europe and Australia.

Thematic Evolution

This network diagram shows the evolution of key themes in patient participation research over time. We can observe how themes like “decision making,” “patient-centered care,” and “physician-patient relations” have been relevant topics over the years.

Top Research Topics

This bar chart displays the most frequent topics associated with patient participation research. “Shared decision making” emerges as the most prominent concept, followed by others such as “patient-centered care” and “qualitative research.”

Institutional Involvement

This pie chart explores the relative frequency of involvement in research involving patient participation, by institution type. Universities and hospitals are the primary contributors, but we also see significant involvement from non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Collaboration Patterns

This plot illustrates the most common collaboration patterns between different types of institutions. The triad of universities, hospitals, and non-profit organizations emerges as the dominant triad participating in patient-related research.

Analysis and Implications

1. Growing Interest: The steady increase in publications suggests a growing recognition of the importance of patient participation in healthcare research.

2. Geographical Concentration: While research is concentrated in certain countries, there’s potential for expansion in other regions.

3. Evolving Themes: The shift from traditional physician-centered models to patient-centered approaches is evident in the thematic evolution.

4. Multidisciplinary Approach: The diversity of institution types involved indicates a multifaceted approach to patient participation research.

5. Methodological Trends: The prominence of qualitative research and shared decision-making concepts suggests a focus on understanding patient experiences and preferences.