Current status and hotspots in breast cancer patient self-management research: A bibliometric and visual analysis via CiteSpace

Background: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Patient self-management plays a pivotal role in enhancing outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by this disease. This study employed bibliometric and visual analysis techniques utilizing CiteSpace to elucidate the current status and research hotspots in breast cancer patient self-management from January 1, 2005, to August 31, 2023.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The retrieved literature was subjected to visualization and analysis using CiteSpace, focusing on publication timeline, article count, geographical distribution, institutional affiliations, journal sources, reference co-citation networks, and keyword analysis.

Results: The analysis encompassed 1413 English-language documents. The United States emerged as the most prolific contributor, while the University of Toronto demonstrated the highest institutional output. The two-map overlay revealed prominent citation paths, indicating strong interconnections between publications in "Medicine, Medicine, Clinical" and "Health, Nursing, Medicine," as well as "Psychology, Education, Health" and "Health, Nursing, Medicine." The most frequently co-cited reference was "Self-Management: Enabling and Empowering Patients Living with Cancer as a Chronic Illness." High-frequency keywords identified included quality of life, chronic disease, self-management, patient education, randomized controlled trials, education, and intervention. These keywords formed 11 distinct clusters related to intervention content, methodologies, outcome indicators, and emerging research trends. Keyword burst analysis predicted future research hotspots focusing on patient needs, psychological distress, Internet technology, and mobile applications.

Conclusions: Research in breast cancer self-management is experiencing significant growth. Enhanced collaboration between countries, regions, and institutions is imperative. Further investigation is warranted, particularly in the domains of "quality of life," "patient education," and "mobile health." These findings provide valuable insights to guide future research directions in this critical field.