Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42726289›Full record

ReviewSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Global research trends in traditional and complementary medicine for cancer supportive care: a bibliometric analysis (2000-2025).

Amit Gajarmal, Mahesh S, Sandip Baheti

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Amit GajarmalCentral Council For Research In Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) - Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Moti Bagh Road, Patiala, Punjab, 147001, India. dgalaxy78@gmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1302-0847
Mahesh SCentral Council For Research In Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) - Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Moti Bagh Road, Patiala, Punjab, 147001, India.
Sandip BahetiCentral Council For Research In Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) - Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Moti Bagh Road, Patiala, Punjab, 147001, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCancer supportive care has become a critical component of comprehensive oncology, with increasing integration of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) to address symptom burden, quality of life, and survivorship needs. Despite growing research activity, a comprehensive mapping of global research patterns in this field remains limited. This study aimed to map global research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic developments in T&CM-based cancer supportive care.

methodsA bibliometric and scientometric analysis was conducted using publications retrieved from PubMed and Scopus databases covering the period from January 2000 to November 2025. Bibliometric mapping and network visualization were performed using VOSviewer to analyze publication trends, co-authorship networks, institutional and country collaboration patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and citation structures.

resultsA total of 5770 unique publications were analyzed. Research output showed modest growth in the early 2000s followed by sustained expansion after 2010, with peak activity observed between 2020 and 2024. The USA was the leading contributor in publications, citations, and international collaboration, followed by China and the UK. The literature demonstrated a strong patient-centered thematic orientation emphasizing quality of life, symptom management, and supportive care outcomes. Keyword clustering highlighted the growing role of traditional and complementary medicine modalities within integrative oncology. Collaboration networks were globally distributed but regionally concentrated, with limited cross-regional integration.

conclusionGlobal research on T&CM in cancer supportive care has expanded rapidly and is increasingly oriented toward patient-centered outcomes. However, fragmented collaboration networks, uneven geographic representation, and methodological variability persist. These findings highlight the need for stronger international collaboration and well-designed clinical studies to support the evidence-informed integration of traditional and complementary medicine within supportive oncology.

Indexed as

Biomedical ResearchComplementary TherapiesMedicine, TraditionalNeoplasmsBibliometricsHumansQuality of LifeBibliometric analysisIntegrative oncologyQuality of lifeSupportive oncologySymptom managementTraditional and complementary medicine

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.