Bibliometric Analysis of Acupuncture Therapy for Cancer Pain Over the Past 10 Years

Fayang Ling; Wenchuan Qi; Xiao Li; Jun Zhou; Jian Xiong; Yi Zhao; Qianhua Zheng; Fanrong Liang

doi:10.2147/JPR.S395421

Bibliometric Analysis of Acupuncture Therapy for Cancer Pain Over the Past 10 Years

J Pain Res. 2023 Mar 20:16:985-1003. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S395421. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Fayang Ling^#¹, Wenchuan Qi^#¹, Xiao Li^#¹, Jun Zhou¹, Jian Xiong¹, Yi Zhao¹, Qianhua Zheng¹, Fanrong Liang²

Affiliations

¹ Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
² Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Purpose: Cancer pain is a common symptom of cancer patients and greatly affects quality of life. Acupuncture has certain curative effects on cancer pain. The aim of this study was to analyze and visualize the current status and research trend of acupuncture treatment for cancer pain over the last 10 years and provide directions for future development.

Methods: A search of the Web of Science Core Collection from 2012-01-01 to 2022-08-20 was performed to collect studies related to acupuncture therapy for cancer pain. CiteSpace was used to conduct bibliometric analysis and visualization from the perspective of the volume of annual publications, journals, nations, institutions, authors, keywords, and references.

Results: A total of 302 studies were included in the analysis. The number of publications increased steadily with some fluctuations over the past decade. Integrative Cancer Therapies was the journal with the most relevant publications, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology was the most frequently cited journal. China had the highest volume of publications, and the USA contributed most to international collaboration. The most prolific institution was Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The most productive author was Mao JJ, and the most influential author was Lu WD. "Acupuncture" was the top keyword in frequency and centrality. The references with the highest frequency and centrality were published by HE, Y, and Ting Bao, respectively.

Conclusion: A stable development trend has formed in this field. The overall collaborative network needs to be strengthened. Breast cancer and multiple myeloma, electroacupuncture and bee venom acupuncture, postoperative pain, peripheral neuropathic pain syndrome, and aromatase inhibitors-associated arthralgia syndrome are research hotspots in this field. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), evidence-based evaluations and mechanisms (cancer-induced bone pain) are research trends and frontiers.

Keywords: CiteSpace; acupuncture analgesia; bibliometric analysis; cancer; pain.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U21A20404) and the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82074556).