Global Trends in Transplant Nursing Research from 1995 to January 2026: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Introduction Solid organ transplant nursing is a critical specialty that influences patient outcomes throughout the transplantation process. However, the global development, collaboration patterns, and thematic evolution of research in this field have not been systematically mapped. Aim This study examined global research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution in solid organ transplant nursing research published between January 1995 and January 2026. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection. A total of 1432 eligible publications were analyzed using the bibliometrix package in R. Publication output, citation performance, authorship, country contributions, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution were evaluated. Publications from January 2026 were included but treated as partial-year data in trend analyses. Results Annual publication output showed sustained growth from 1995 to 2025. The dataset comprised 567 sources and 7147 authors, with an average of 5.94 authors per document and an international collaboration rate of 13.48%. The United States contributed the largest share of publications (30.59%), followed by China, Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Keyword analysis identified 89 frequently occurring terms, with dominant themes including nursing, kidney transplantation, outcomes, and quality of life, reflecting increasing attention to patient-centered care, long-term outcomes, and survivorship. Conclusions Solid organ transplant nursing research has grown substantially over the past 3 decades, with increasing emphasis on patient-centered outcomes and chronic care. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the field and highlight opportunities to strengthen international collaboration and advance evidence-based, technology-supported nursing interventions.