Mapping the nursing literature on patient safety in the operating room: A bibliometric analysis

Background: Patient safety in the operating room is a process involving organized activities. Within this process, technological environments, behavioral activities, risks, procedures, and sustainability play significant roles. Purpose: This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive and integrative review of the global literature on postoperative patient safety in nursing. Design: Bibliometric analysis. Methods: Data were collected using the Web of Science (WOS) database on September 18, 2024. No time constraints were imposed during the data search, and all data available up to the search date were included in the initial review. The "Biblioshiny" application provided by the Bibliometrix R package was used for analysis. Results: The results indicate that the nursing literature on patient safety in the operating room has been increasing every year, peaking in the current period. According to the Bradford's Law analysis, the number of journals in the first zone is insufficient, and multidisciplinary journals are included in this specialized nursing publication group. The author productivity does not align with Lotka's Law, highlighting the need to increase the number of expert authors in this field. Developed countries are the most productive in nursing publications related to patient safety in the operating room, and collaborative publications are concentrated in these areas. Some underdeveloped countries have no publications at all. In the nursing literature, relevant research primarily focuses on "operating-room," "patient safety," and "communication." There are literature gaps in the areas of complications, anxiety, and operating-room efficiency. Conclusions: This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive and integrative review of the global literature on patient safety in the operating room within the field of nursing.