MO618BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ON PHYSICAL REHABILITATION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING DIALYSIS IN THE LAST 24 YEARS
Authors: Salazar Camila , Sandoval Maryorie , Moscoso Paula , Salazar Cristian 
Published: May 2021

Background and Aims

Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) exposed to renal replacement therapy (RRT) have many consequences, both physical and psychological. Dialysis patient rehabilitation is a way to improve the well-being and quality of life of users, but it is an area that has not been commonly explored and where there is much to know. The participation of the Physiotherapist in the rehabilitation of these patients has increased mainly in the last period. The present study aims to carry out an analysis of how the scientific field has behaved in relation to rehabilitation in patients undergoing dialysis, exploring the existing bases for new studies and knowing how it has varied between the years 1996 to 2020.

Method

The present study is a bibliometric analysis. Through this type of study, it is possible to analyze the scientific production and how is the activity on some subject. It allows, among others, the development of research topics that are little studied, in addition to evaluating the countries, institutions and authors in a certain period. A search for scientific articles was carried out using the web of science (WOS) page, obtaining 236 articles. The search key was TS = (“rehabilitation”) AND TS = (physical exercise or haemodialysis or renal dialysis or peritoneal dialysis) AND TS = (hemodialysis) NOT TS = (fistula). In the same WOS platform, a filter was carried out where only articles, reviews and conference articles were included, excluding editorial material, book chapters and early accesses, articles that are in the range of years between 1990 and 1995 were also excluded. These years were chosen because it was observed that from 1996 an increase in the trend on the subject under study can be observed. With this filtration the articles decrease to 191 results. The Scimat and Bibliometrix biblioshiny softwares were used for their analysis.

Results

A total of 191 records were compiled among which we have been able to identify different bibliometric indicators that allow us to know the scientific performance and how it has behaved over the years. Figure 1 shows a descriptive graph obtained from biblioshiny bibliometrix where it was shown the annual scientific production of the documents, with dates that fluctuate between 1996 and 2020. It is observed that the scientific production on this issue of rehabilitation in dialysis patients through the years has been developing exponentially since 1996. However, there are years in which production decreased significantly. It was also found the authors who have published the most, the journals and their categorizations, and the network of collaborations that exist between authors from different countries, being the United States the pioneer country in scientific production. Finally, emerging studies on the subject were found.

Conclusion

In this study we have addressed different points to show and publicize the issue of rehabilitation in dialysis patients, with its greatest contributors in recent years. We can say that many studies are still missing to be able to have a solid base in the rehabilitation of these patients, who are increasing more every day in the world population. Although, we have compiled a significant number of studies, it is probably not all of them, studies that complement the information are needed with other search engines. This study can serve as a starting point for future research, which is necessary in the field of dialysis, although the production rate has increased over the years it is still quite low, it is important that new authors appear who can work among them to advance and thus obtain knowledge that allows us to help and benefit patients around the world. In addition, we have considered it very important to mention and suggest so that Latin American countries can become more interested in this topic, since they are part of the countries that produce the least, however, their population on dialysis increases progressively over the years.