Navigating Health Information Management: A Bibliometric Review

This article, titled “Analysis of Publications on Health Information Management Using the Science Mapping Method: A Holistic Perspective,” provides a comprehensive bibliometric study of the Health Information Management (HIM) literature. Published in Healthcare in 2024, the study addresses the critical need for a sustainable information management vision in health amidst the age of digital transformation. Its primary objective is to holistically examine the accumulation of HIM knowledge over the last 40 years to guide future research and build a new vision for the field.

Methodology: The researchers utilized a bibliometric analysis method for science mapping. Their analysis involved 630 academic publications selected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, spanning from 1983 to 2023. The selection was based on the keyword “Health Information Management” and specific inclusion criteria, focusing on articles, reviews, and early-access publications written in English. The analyses, including co-citation and co-occurrence document analyses, were performed using R-based software Bibliometrix, Python, and Microsoft® Excel®.

Key Findings: The study offers several insights into the landscape of HIM research:

• Performance Analysis:
  • The field of HIM shows rapid growth and high impact, with 630 documents published between 1983 and 2023 and an annual growth rate of 11.78%. On average, each document received 11.11 citations, indicating significant impact.
  • Research in the field is active, with an average document age of 5.26 years.
  • The literature is largely composed of original research articles (541 articles), with a multidisciplinary approach.
  • The USA (199 articles) and the University of Washington, Seattle (21 articles), are identified as the most productive country and institution, respectively. Kim S. is the most prolific author with 12 articles.
  • The Health Information Management Journal is the leading publication venue.
  • Trending topics include “Health Information Management” itself, “COVID-19” (especially in 2021–2022), “Clinical Coding,” and “Health Information Systems”. “Electronic Health Records” and “Medical Informatics” demonstrate consistent prominence over an extensive timeframe.
  • The most cited papers address critical areas such as the integration of medical applications via SMART on FHIR, the application of fog computing in healthcare, the development of health literacy scales, challenges of Personal Health Records (PHRs) for low-income elderly populations, digital divides in eHealth, and digital watermarking for secure data.
• Co-occurrence Network Analysis: This analysis revealed three distinct themes in HIM literature:
  • Health Information Management (HIM) (red cluster): Focuses on health information and data management, storage, and analysis. It comprises five sub-themes:
    • Electronic records (ERs), including Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).
    • Medical informatics, concerning technological tools for health information management.
    • E-health and telemedicine, addressing digital platforms and remote access for healthcare delivery.
    • Health education and awareness, highlighting the importance of education for providers and the public.
    • Health information systems (HISs), crucial for managing patient records, laboratory results, and treatment plans.
  • Personal Health Information (PHI) (blue cluster): Explores how individuals manage their health information, emphasizing the role of PHRs.
  • Clinical Coding and Data Quality (green cluster): Centers on data management and coding practices, including ICD-10, hospital information systems, and ensuring data accuracy for patient safety.
• Co-citation Analysis: This technique grouped studies into six prominent clusters, highlighting key areas and their intellectual structures:
  • HIM and Technology Adoption: Investigates optimal methods and timing for implementing HISs and technology to enhance patient safety and communication.
  • Australian Health Services and Clinical Coding: Addresses Australia’s health status, quality, and safety of health services, and the role of ICD and clinical coding.
  • Health Information Systems Success: Focuses on methodological and applied issues for assessing the success and effectiveness of HISs, including models for measuring triumph and predicting future usage.
  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and the Impact of eHealth Technologies: Examines the impact of EHRs and eHealth on healthcare quality, efficiency, and cost, emphasizing concepts like “Meaningful Use”.
  • Personal Health Information Management (PHIM) and Consumer Health Informatics (CHI): Explores how individuals self-manage their health information and communicate with providers, and the influence of PHIM on CHI.
  • Country Health Information Systems Framework and Standards: Highlights the importance of HISs for planning, monitoring, and evaluation of health services, referencing frameworks such as those provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA): Identified future focus areas in HIM, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and data accuracy, indicating their increasing importance for health data security and analytics. It also underscores the continued significance of international health coding standards, patient safety, data quality, education, and research.

Contributions and Implications: This research is considered the first to examine HIM from a holistic perspective using the science mapping technique. It identifies critical issues, meaningful themes, and provides valuable insights into common citation and keyword analysis themes, guiding future research in the field. The study concludes that HIM is a dynamic and multidisciplinary field, crucial for improving healthcare quality and ensuring patient safety, requiring continuous updates and a broad perspective that considers technological, personal, societal, ethical, and political dimensions.

Reference: Tengilimoğlu, D., Orhan, F., Şenel Tekin, P., & Younis, M. (2024). Analysis of Publications on Health Information Management Using the Science Mapping Method: A Holistic Perspective. Healthcare, 12(3), 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030287