International Journal of Medical Reviews

International Journal of Medical Reviews

Scientometric Analysis of Global Scientific Publications in the Field of Spiritual Health: A Study of Trends, Scientific Collaborations, and Conceptual Evolution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Spiritual health, as one of the fundamental dimensions of human health, has received significant attention from health researchers in recent years. This study maps spiritual health publications globally, identifies key trends and collaborations, and reveals their conceptual structure .
Methods: The present study is considered an applied type of research and was conducted using scientometric techniques and by employing Scopus. Data were retrieved on April 3, 2025, using a specific search strategy. After data preprocessing, analyses were performed using Bibliometrix software and the Biblioshiny graphical interface in the R environment. Moreover, some descriptive graphs were drawn using Microsoft Excel software.
Results: A total of 605 scientific documents related to spiritual health were identified, showing an increasing trend from 2000 onwards and a peak in 2024. Iran is at the top of scientific publications with 195 documents. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran is also the most active research institution in this field. Analysis of scientific collaborations between countries and institutions indicates the centrality of Iran and its strong links with Islamic countries. Synonym analysis of keywords indicates the close connection of spiritual health with concepts such as mental health, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and nursing .
Conclusion: The study highlights spiritual health as an expanding interdisciplinary field with religious, psychological, and social dimensions, crucial for holistic well-being. Enhancing global collaboration and practical applications are key to its advancement. Findings can guide future research priorities, promote cross-cultural collaborations, and support evidence-based policy-making in spiritual health.
Keywords

Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer 2025
Pages 979-987

  • Receive Date 26 April 2025
  • Revise Date 21 May 2025
  • Accept Date 13 July 2025