Visual analysis of research trends and hotspots in wearable electronic devices in the medical field: A bibliometric study

Abstract

Background Healthcare services and functionalities need comprehensive upgrades, and advancements in information technology have driven research in wearable electronic devices (WDs), making them critical tools for this purpose. Objective To conduct a systematic bibliometric analysis of WDs in the medical field and understand research trends. Methods A literature search of articles related to WDs in the medical field was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 2013 to 2023. Articles were analyzed using CiteSpace 6.1.R6. Results Publications on WDs have increased yearly since 2014, peaking in 2021. The United States leads with 935 articles. PLOS One is the top journal, and Bland et al. have the highest citation frequencies. Hot topics include mobile apps, phones, and neural networks, with research on physical activity, sleep monitoring, and atrial fibrillation. Conclusions This study identifies key journals, countries, institutions, and authors in WDs research, highlighting trends and global interest in health monitoring and assessment. The United States leads in research, with future trends focusing on neural network monitoring, accuracy improvements, cloud storage, and advancements in healthcare management systems.