Sevda Tüzün ÖZDEMİR, Öznur Usta YEŞİLBALKAN
Turkish Journal of Nephrology - 2026;35(2):111-117
Background: Hemodialysis (HD) remains the most common kidney replacement therapy, yet patients face significant physical, psychological, and social challenges that hinder treatment adherence. Evidence confirms that structured patient education strengthens self-management capabilities, thereby improving adherence and clinical outcomes. This bibliometric study aims to map and visualize the literature on educational interventions for HD patients, identify research trends, and provide a synthesized overview to inform and contextualize future investigations. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science database on December 25, 2024, using a structured keyword search related to education, HD, and self-management, yielding 337 publications. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package to analyze annual growth, influential authors and countries, key journals, and keyword co-occurrence networks. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in publications, particularly after 2009. The most productive authors were Griva K. (n = 8), Sousa C.N. (n = 7), and Chan C.T . (n = 6). The United States (n = 75), Canada (n = 43), and China (n = 35) were the dominant contributors, with an international collaboration rate of 20.47%. Core research themes were "quality of life, " "self-care, " and "self-management, " while recent trends indicate a growing focus on "home hemodialysis." Conclusion: This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the literature, confirming the critical role of education in empowering HD patients. The findings highlight the field's maturation and point to emerging areas of interest. Promoting further national and international collaboration is recommended to amplify the impact of future research.
