Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies in Oncology: A Web of Science-based Bibliometric Network Analysis (2020-2024)

Abstract

Objective: Traditional and complementary medicine plays a significant role in the prevention and treatment of diseases by supporting modern medical practices. Particularly in the field of oncology, such practices are effective in enhancing patients' quality of life and supporting treatment processes. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in oncology between 2020 and 2024. Methods: A total of 1,884 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database were analyzed. The study examined the most cited publications, distribution by year and language, contributing countries, publishers, research areas, and keyword usage. Co-authorship, author citation, country citation, and bibliographic network visualizations were performed using VOSviewer software. Results: A notable increase in oncology-related studies focusing on traditional and complementary medicine was observed between 2021 and 2024. The United States of America (USA) and China emerged as the leading countries in terms of both publication output and citation impact. Publishers such as Elsevier and Springer Nature played a significant role in disseminating research in this field. Highly cited works included studies by Mao and Zhang. Keyword analysis revealed central themes such as integrative medicine, complementary medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusion: Between 2020 and 2024, there has been growing interest and increased scientific productivity in the field of traditional and complementary medicine in oncology. The USA and China have led this area in terms of publication volume and citations, while publishers like Elsevier and Springer Nature have significantly contributed to its dissemination.