Global research trends and knowledge structure of meta-analyses on pediatric pain: A bibliometric analysis.

Authors

Seçil Taylan, Fatma Dilek Turan, İlknur Özkan, Kızbes Meral Kiliç

Published in

Journal of pediatric nursing. Volume 90. Pages 510-523. Jul 15, 2026. Epub Jul 15, 2026.

Abstract

Pediatric pain is a common and complex clinical concern affecting children and adolescents, with important implications for recovery, psychological well-being, and healthcare experiences. Although systematic reviews and meta-analyses on pediatric pain have increased in recent years, the overall development and knowledge structure of this evidence-synthesis-literature remain unclear.
This study aimed to examine global research trends, collaboration patterns, and the thematic structure of meta-analyses on pediatric pain using bibliometric methods.
A bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. Meta-analyses on pediatric pain published between 1995 and 2026 were identified using predefined search strategies. Publication trends, core journals, author productivity, international collaboration networks, and keyword structures were analyzed using the Bibliometrix package in R and the Biblioshiny interface.
A total of 1720 publications from 666 sources were included. Scientific production increased markedly after 2010, indicating growing emphasis on evidence synthesis in pediatric pain research. Publications were concentrated in a limited number of core journals, and authorship patterns reflected extensive international collaboration. Thematic analyses revealed a shift from intervention efficacy toward patient-centered outcomes, quality of life, and non-pharmacological approaches.
Meta-analyses on pediatric pain have expanded rapidly and reflect an increasingly interdisciplinary, globally collaborative, and patient-centered research landscape.
Understanding the development of pediatric pain evidence synthesis may support pediatric nurses in strengthening evidence-informed pain assessment and management practices. The increasing emphasis on patient-centered outcomes highlights the importance of integrating functional, psychosocial, and quality-of-life considerations into routine pediatric pain care.

PMID:
42456193
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 16 Jul 2026.

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