Bibliometric and visual analysis in the field of telemedicine applications in palliative care from 2005 to 2024

Against the backdrop of global population aging and the increasing burden of chronic diseases, palliative care has emerged as a critical component in enhancing the quality of life for patients with terminal illnesses. However, significant gaps in service accessibility persist worldwide, with many patients in need, particularly those with non-cancer chronic conditions, unable to receive timely and specialized care. Telemedicine, with its advantage of overcoming geographical barriers and optimizing resource allocation, offers a revolutionary solution to expand the reach of palliative care. The application of telemedicine accelerated remarkably following the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an explosive growth in related research.
Although bibliometric analyses have been conducted separately in the fields of telemedicine and palliative care, a systematic and comprehensive overview focusing specifically on their intersection is still lacking in academia. This gap makes it difficult for researchers to accurately grasp the core knowledge structure, evolutionary path, and cutting-edge trends within this integrated field. Therefore, to map the research landscape of telemedicine applications in palliative care, identify key research entities and collaborative networks, and reveal the paradigm shift from traditional disease-oriented intervention to patient-centered digital care, we conducted this bibliometric study. This research aims to systematically analyze academic literature over two decades (2005-2024) using quantitative and visual methods, thereby providing direction for future studies, offering an evidence base for clinical practice and policy-making, and ultimately promoting the development of high-quality, accessible palliative care services.