Mapping publication status and exploring hotspots in a research field: chronic disease self-management.
OBJECTIVE
To provide insight into the characteristics of chronic disease self-management by mapping publication status and exploring hotspots.


BACKGROUND
Chronic disease is becoming a major public health issue worldwide, highlighting the importance of self-management in this area. Despite the volume and variety of publications, little is known about how 'chronic disease self-management' has developed, since the first publication 40 years ago. Such is the number of publications in the area, that there is a need for a systematic bibliographic examination to enable clinicians and researchers to navigate this literature.


METHODS
A bibliometric analysis of publications was used.


METHODS
Publication status was achieved using BICOMB software, whereas hotspots were identified with Ucinet software. A search of PubMed was conducted for papers published between 1971-2012.


RESULTS
By 2011, the number of publications reached 696, a fourfold increase from the previous 10 years, of which 75% came from the USA and UK. There were 1284 journals, which published chronic disease self-management research, involving various disciplines. The research hotspots highlighted various self-management strategies for the following: diabetes; cardiac vascular and pulmonary chronic disease; pain relief for neoplasms; and obesity. Psychological adjustment was a permeating theme in self-management processes as was using internet-based interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-management in chronic disease publication has been most evident in developed countries. The bibliographic mapping and identification of publication hotspots provides scholars and practitioners with key target journals, as well as a rigorous overview of the field for use in further research, evidence-based practice and health policy development.
School of Nursing, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Yang
Y
Lu
Zheng
Z
Li
David
D
Arthur
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017594:Publication Bias; D012648:Self Care
PubMed; bibliometrics; hotspots; nursing; publication status; self-management