Trends of secondhand smoke exposure among children: A scientometric analysis

INTRODUCTION Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure poses significant risks to children's health, yet global research on this issue requires further analysis to facilitate a comprehensive exploration of knowledge production and topic trends. This study aims to analyze the research outputs, cooperation and evolution on children's exposure to secondhand smoke. METHODS A scientometric approach was employed to analyze global research on adolescent secondhand smoke exposure. Data were gathered from scholarly databases and analyzed using CiteSpace software, which was used to assess publication trends, citation patterns, and research collaborations. The study examined publications, citations, interdisciplinary collaboration across countries, institutions, authors, and disciplines, as well as identifying research hotspots and emerging trends using burst detection and co-citation network analysis. RESULTS The analysis revealed significant growth in research on adolescent SHS exposure over recent decades, with the United States, United Kingdom, and China being the most productive countries in this field. Key journals in the substance abuse field serve as the primary venues for publishing relevant studies. Interdisciplinary collaborations have increased, particularly between health, policy, and social science disciplines. Research hotspots include the impact of SHS on children's physical and mental health, with a particular focus on behavioral and developmental issues. Additionally, e-cigarette and heated tobacco products have emerged as new concerns in recent research. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the rapid expansion of research on SHS exposure among children, underscoring the growing recognition of its widespread health impacts. Interdisciplinary research collaborations are becoming more prevalent, and significant efforts are needed to address emerging issues such as e-cigarette exposure. These results underscore the need for further research to explore and address these evolving issues.