Implementation of HPV Self-Sampling in Cervical Cancer Screening Programs: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Output, Global Trends, and Collaboration Networks.

backgroundCervical cancer is still a significant issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Adding HPV self-sampling to cervical cancer screening programs could make the process simpler for people to receive essential health care and support universal health coverage. Therefore, this study is aimed at mapping research output, global trends, and collaboration networks related to the implementation of HPV self-sampling in cervical cancer screening programs.

methodsA bibliometric, descriptive, and retrospective study was performed, covering the period from 2006 to October 2025. A search was conducted in Scopus, confined to the TITLE-ABS-KEY fields, without language limitations, and restricted to documents in their final publication stage and original research articles. The search syntax used Boolean operators (AND, OR) to combine four thematic blocks: self-sampling/self-collection, etiological agent, cervical screening, and implementation and programmatic delivery. The study examined a number of indicators, such as the volume of research output, the amount of authorship credit per article, the number of normalized citations, the number of citations, the h-index, the g-index, and the m-index. R (RStudio) Version 4.3.1 was used to analyze the data.

resultsThere were 824 articles published in 268 journals. The number of research papers published each year went up by 14.90%, and each paper received an average of 21.16 citations per year. Each paper had 8.38 coauthors, and 39.56% of the time, the coauthors were from other countries. The United States and Australia became major contributors, working together in dense networks that crossed continents. Editorial dissemination was primarily found in oncology and public health journals, with cocitation patterns connecting clinical and public health areas. The authorship distribution mirrored Lotka's pattern, with 71.90% of authors contributing a single article and 4.10% producing five or more. The focus shifted from cytology and acceptability to molecular testing and self-sampling from 2006 to 2011. From 2012 to 2016, the focus was more on equity and digital support tools along the screening pathway. The focus on sociocultural issues got stronger between 2017 and 2019. From 2020 to 2025, the literature began to emphasize clinical outcomes, HPV-16, populations living with HIV, and programmatic implementation, including the collection of urine samples.

conclusionResearch on HPV self-sampling is expanding, although it remains geographically concentrated. International collaboration is substantial, and the thematic focus has shifted toward programmatic implementation in higher-risk populations, with increasing emphasis on equity and digital support. These patterns underscore the need for stronger translational partnerships led by stakeholders in high-burden settings and supported by open science practices to reduce geographic disparities and inform context-sensitive public policies.