Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42755527›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2026

Global trends and thematic clusters in healthcare professional education, medical errors, and patient safety: a bibliometric analysis, 2000-2026.

Birgit Hladschik-Kermer, Olena Litvinova, Michel-Edwar Mickael, Maima Matin, Ahmed Fatimi, Anass Belbachir, Mairim Russo Serafini, Maria Kletecka-Pulker, Atanas G Atanasov, Thomas Wochele-Thoma

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 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

10 authors.

Birgit Hladschik-KermerUnit Medical Psychology, Department of Public Mental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Olena LitvinovaLudwig Boltzmann Institute Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Michel-Edwar MickaelDepartment of Biotechnology and Nutrigenomics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland.
Maima MatinDepartment of Biotechnology and Nutrigenomics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland.
Ahmed FatimiChemical Science and Engineering Research Team, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
Anass BelbachirRegenerative Medicine Center, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, Morocco.
Mairim Russo SerafiniPostgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil.
Maria Kletecka-PulkerLudwig Boltzmann Institute Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Atanas G AtanasovLudwig Boltzmann Institute Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Thomas Wochele-ThomaLudwig Boltzmann Institute Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In the context of the active implementation of the World Health Organization's Global Patient Safety Action Plan, there is a growing need for a comprehensive synthesis of scientific evidence reflecting the development of research in the field of healthcare professional education. Objective: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications addressing the relationship between healthcare professional education, medical errors, and patient safety over the period 2000-2026, based on the Web of Science and Scopus databases, to identify global trends, stages of development, and key thematic clusters of research in the digital era. Methods: The analysis was based on publications that met the search criteria and were indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases (2000-2026, as of April 27, 2026). Analytical tools provided by the databases, the bibliometrix R package, and VOSviewer software were used. Scientific productivity, citation metrics, contributions of leading journals and research institutions, keyword bursts and co-occurrence, as well as thematic structure, were analyzed. Results: A total of 17,457 publications that met the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. A sustained increase in publication activity was identified. Four stages of development were defined: formation (2000-2008), rapid growth (2009-2014), thematic diversification (2015-2018), and interdisciplinary integration (2019-2026). Cluster analysis revealed four key research areas: educational strategies and competency development; healthcare systems and quality management; human factors and the epidemiology of medical errors; and medication safety. An increase in the number of publications devoted to simulation-based learning, interdisciplinary education and digital technologies was identified. Conclusion: A steady increase in publication activity, expansion of thematic areas, and strengthening of the interdisciplinary nature of research in the fields of medical education, medical errors, and patient safety were identified. This reflects the growing attention of the scientific community to issues considered among the WHO's key patient safety priorities. The obtained results allow us to identify promising areas for further research, including the development of clinically relevant indicators linking educational interventions with patient safety outcomes, further exploration of educational programs aimed at supporting mental health, well-being, and preventing burnout in healthcare workers, and exploring the application of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in medical education and patient safety.

Indexed as

burnoutdigital healthhealthcare professional educationinterprofessional educationmedical errorsmental healthpatient safetysimulation-based training

Identifiers

PMID42755527
PMCPMC13581705

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.