healthcare management topics for research paper

Research Topics & Ideas: Healthcare

100+ Healthcare Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a healthcare-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of healthcare-related research ideas and topic thought-starters across a range of healthcare fields, including allopathic and alternative medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacology and public health.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the healthcare domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic.

Overview: Healthcare Research Topics

• Allopathic medicine
• Alternative /complementary medicine
• Veterinary medicine
• Physical therapy/ rehab
• Optometry and ophthalmology
• Pharmacy and pharmacology
• Public health
• Examples of healthcare-related dissertations

Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine

• The effectiveness of telemedicine in remote elderly patient care
• The impact of stress on the immune system of cancer patients
• The effects of a plant-based diet on chronic diseases such as diabetes
• The use of AI in early cancer diagnosis and treatment
• The role of the gut microbiome in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• The efficacy of mindfulness meditation in reducing chronic pain: A systematic review
• The benefits and drawbacks of electronic health records in a developing country
• The effects of environmental pollution on breast milk quality
• The use of personalized medicine in treating genetic disorders
• The impact of social determinants of health on chronic diseases in Asia
• The role of high-intensity interval training in improving cardiovascular health
• The efficacy of using probiotics for gut health in pregnant women
• The impact of poor sleep on the treatment of chronic illnesses
• The role of inflammation in the development of chronic diseases such as lupus
• The effectiveness of physiotherapy in pain control post-surgery

Topics & Ideas: Alternative Medicine

• The benefits of herbal medicine in treating young asthma patients
• The use of acupuncture in treating infertility in women over 40 years of age
• The effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating mental health disorders: A systematic review
• The role of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety post-surgery
• The impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing high blood pressure
• The use of chiropractic therapy in treating back pain of pregnant women
• The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine such as Shun-Qi-Tong-Xie (SQTX) in treating digestive disorders in China
• The impact of yoga on physical and mental health in adolescents
• The benefits of hydrotherapy in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis
• The role of Reiki in promoting healing and relaxation post birth
• The effectiveness of naturopathy in treating skin conditions such as eczema
• The use of deep tissue massage therapy in reducing chronic pain in amputees
• The impact of tai chi on the treatment of anxiety and depression
• The benefits of reflexology in treating stress, anxiety and chronic fatigue
• The role of acupuncture in the prophylactic management of headaches and migraines

Topics & Ideas: Dentistry

• The impact of sugar consumption on the oral health of infants
• The use of digital dentistry in improving patient care: A systematic review
• The efficacy of orthodontic treatments in correcting bite problems in adults
• The role of dental hygiene in preventing gum disease in patients with dental bridges
• The impact of smoking on oral health and tobacco cessation support from UK dentists
• The benefits of dental implants in restoring missing teeth in adolescents
• The use of lasers in dental procedures such as root canals
• The efficacy of root canal treatment using high-frequency electric pulses in saving infected teeth
• The role of fluoride in promoting remineralization and slowing down demineralization
• The impact of stress-induced reflux on oral health
• The benefits of dental crowns in restoring damaged teeth in elderly patients
• The use of sedation dentistry in managing dental anxiety in children
• The efficacy of teeth whitening treatments in improving dental aesthetics in patients with braces
• The role of orthodontic appliances in improving well-being
• The impact of periodontal disease on overall health and chronic illnesses

Tops & Ideas: Veterinary Medicine

• The impact of nutrition on broiler chicken production
• The role of vaccines in disease prevention in horses
• The importance of parasite control in animal health in piggeries
• The impact of animal behaviour on welfare in the dairy industry
• The effects of environmental pollution on the health of cattle
• The role of veterinary technology such as MRI in animal care
• The importance of pain management in post-surgery health outcomes
• The impact of genetics on animal health and disease in layer chickens
• The effectiveness of alternative therapies in veterinary medicine: A systematic review
• The role of veterinary medicine in public health: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of climate change on animal health and infectious diseases in animals
• The importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine and sustainable agriculture
• The effects of the human-animal bond on canine health
• The role of veterinary medicine in conservation efforts: A case study of Rhinoceros poaching in Africa
• The impact of veterinary research of new vaccines on animal health

Topics & Ideas: Physical Therapy/Rehab

• The efficacy of aquatic therapy in improving joint mobility and strength in polio patients
• The impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes in Germany
• The effect of kinesiotaping on reducing knee pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain
• A comparison of manual therapy and yoga exercise therapy in the management of low back pain
• The use of wearable technology in physical rehabilitation and the impact on patient adherence to a rehabilitation plan
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions in physical therapy in adolescents
• The effects of resistance training on individuals with Parkinson’s disease
• The role of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia
• The impact of cognitive-behavioural therapy in physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain
• The use of virtual reality in physical rehabilitation of sports injuries
• The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle function and strength in athletes
• The role of physical therapy in the management of stroke recovery: A systematic review
• The impact of pilates on mental health in individuals with depression
• The use of thermal modalities in physical therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation
• The effect of strength training on balance and gait in elderly patients

Topics & Ideas: Optometry & Opthalmology

• The impact of screen time on the vision and ocular health of children under the age of 5
• The effects of blue light exposure from digital devices on ocular health
• The role of dietary interventions, such as the intake of whole grains, in the management of age-related macular degeneration
• The use of telemedicine in optometry and ophthalmology in the UK
• The impact of myopia control interventions on African American children’s vision
• The use of contact lenses in the management of dry eye syndrome: different treatment options
• The effects of visual rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury
• The role of low vision rehabilitation in individuals with age-related vision loss: challenges and solutions
• The impact of environmental air pollution on ocular health
• The effectiveness of orthokeratology in myopia control compared to contact lenses
• The role of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in ocular health
• The effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds on ocular health
• The impact of computer vision syndrome on long-term visual function
• The use of novel diagnostic tools in optometry and ophthalmology in developing countries
• The effects of virtual reality on visual perception and ocular health: an examination of dry eye syndrome and neurologic symptoms

Topics & Ideas: Pharmacy & Pharmacology

• The impact of medication adherence on patient outcomes in cystic fibrosis
• The use of personalized medicine in the management of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
• The effects of pharmacogenomics on drug response and toxicity in cancer patients
• The role of pharmacists in the management of chronic pain in primary care
• The impact of drug-drug interactions on patient mental health outcomes
• The use of telepharmacy in healthcare: Present status and future potential
• The effects of herbal and dietary supplements on drug efficacy and toxicity
• The role of pharmacists in the management of type 1 diabetes
• The impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• The use of technology in medication management in the USA
• The effects of smoking on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: A case study of clozapine
• Leveraging the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing opioid use disorder
• The impact of the opioid epidemic on public health in a developing country
• The use of biosimilars in the management of the skin condition psoriasis
• The effects of the Affordable Care Act on medication utilization and patient outcomes in African Americans

Topics & Ideas: Public Health

• The impact of the built environment and urbanisation on physical activity and obesity
• The effects of food insecurity on health outcomes in Zimbabwe
• The role of community-based participatory research in addressing health disparities
• The impact of social determinants of health, such as racism, on population health
• The effects of heat waves on public health
• The role of telehealth in addressing healthcare access and equity in South America
• The impact of gun violence on public health in South Africa
• The effects of chlorofluorocarbons air pollution on respiratory health
• The role of public health interventions in reducing health disparities in the USA
• The impact of the United States Affordable Care Act on access to healthcare and health outcomes
• The effects of water insecurity on health outcomes in the Middle East
• The role of community health workers in addressing healthcare access and equity in low-income countries
• The impact of mass incarceration on public health and behavioural health of a community
• The effects of floods on public health and healthcare systems
• The role of social media in public health communication and behaviour change in adolescents

Examples: Healthcare Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a healthcare-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various healthcare-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Improving Follow-Up Care for Homeless Populations in North County San Diego (Sanchez, 2021)
• On the Incentives of Medicare’s Hospital Reimbursement and an Examination of Exchangeability (Elzinga, 2016)
• Managing the healthcare crisis: the career narratives of nurses (Krueger, 2021)
• Methods for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric haematology-oncology patients: A systematic literature review (Balkan, 2020)
• Farms in Healthcare: Enhancing Knowledge, Sharing, and Collaboration (Garramone, 2019)
• When machine learning meets healthcare: towards knowledge incorporation in multimodal healthcare analytics (Yuan, 2020)
• Integrated behavioural healthcare: The future of rural mental health (Fox, 2019)
• Healthcare service use patterns among autistic adults: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (Gilmore, 2021)
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Combatting Burnout and Compassionate Fatigue among Mental Health Caregivers (Lundquist, 2022)
• Transgender and gender-diverse people’s perceptions of gender-inclusive healthcare access and associated hope for the future (Wille, 2021)
• Efficient Neural Network Synthesis and Its Application in Smart Healthcare (Hassantabar, 2022)
• The Experience of Female Veterans and Health-Seeking Behaviors (Switzer, 2022)
• Machine learning applications towards risk prediction and cost forecasting in healthcare (Singh, 2022)
• Does Variation in the Nursing Home Inspection Process Explain Disparity in Regulatory Outcomes? (Fox, 2020)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your healthcare dissertation or thesis, check out Topic Kickstarter service below.

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15 Comments

I need topics that will match the Msc program am running in healthcare research please

Hello Mabel,

I can help you with a good topic, kindly provide your email let’s have a good discussion on this.

Can you provide some research topics and ideas on Immunology?

Thank you to create new knowledge on research problem verse research topic

Help on problem statement on teen pregnancy

This post might be useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-problem-statement/

can you provide me with a research topic on healthcare related topics to a qqi level 5 student

Please can someone help me with research topics in public health ?

Hello I have requirement of Health related latest research issue/topics for my social media speeches. If possible pls share health issues , diagnosis, treatment.

I would like a topic thought around first-line support for Gender-Based Violence for survivors or one related to prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Please can I be helped with a master’s research topic in either chemical pathology or hematology or immunology? thanks

Can u please provide me with a research topic on occupational health and safety at the health sector

Good day kindly help provide me with Ph.D. Public health topics on Reproductive and Maternal Health, interventional studies on Health Education

may you assist me with a good easy healthcare administration study topic

May you assist me in finding a research topic on nutrition,physical activity and obesity. On the impact on children

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77 interesting medical research topics for 2024

Last updated

25 November 2023

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Medical research is the gateway to improved patient care and expanding our available treatment options. However, finding a relevant and compelling research topic can be challenging.

Use this article as a jumping-off point to select an interesting medical research topic for your next paper or clinical study.

• How to choose a medical research topic

When choosing a research topic , it’s essential to consider a couple of things. What topics interest you? What unanswered questions do you want to address? 

During the decision-making and brainstorming process, here are a few helpful tips to help you pick the right medical research topic:

Focus on a particular field of study

The best medical research is specific to a particular area. Generalized studies are often too broad to produce meaningful results, so we advise picking a specific niche early in the process. 

Maybe a certain topic interests you, or your industry knowledge reveals areas of need.

Look into commonly researched topics

Once you’ve chosen your research field, do some preliminary research. What have other academics done in their papers and projects? 

From this list, you can focus on specific topics that interest you without accidentally creating a copycat project. This groundwork will also help you uncover any literature gaps—those may be beneficial areas for research.

Get curious and ask questions

Now you can get curious. Ask questions that start with why, how, or what. These questions are the starting point of your project design and will act as your guiding light throughout the process. 

For example: 

What impact does pollution have on children’s lung function in inner-city neighborhoods? 

Why is pollution-based asthma on the rise? 

How can we address pollution-induced asthma in young children? 

• 77 medical research topics worth exploring in 2023

Need some research inspiration for your upcoming paper or clinical study? We’ve compiled a list of 77 topical and in-demand medical research ideas. Let’s take a look. 

• Exciting new medical research topics

If you want to study cutting-edge topics, here are some exciting options:

COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms

Since 2020, COVID-19 has been a hot-button topic in medicine, along with the long-term symptoms in those with a history of COVID-19. 

Examples of COVID-19-related research topics worth exploring include:

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiac and respiratory health

COVID-19 vaccination rates

The evolution of COVID-19 symptoms over time

New variants and strains of the COVID-19 virus

Changes in social behavior and public health regulations amid COVID-19

Vaccinations

Finding ways to cure or reduce the disease burden of chronic infectious diseases is a crucial research area. Vaccination is a powerful option and a great topic to research. 

Examples of vaccination-related research topics include:

mRNA vaccines for viral infections

Biomaterial vaccination capabilities

Vaccination rates based on location, ethnicity, or age

Public opinion about vaccination safety 

Artificial tissues fabrication

With the need for donor organs increasing, finding ways to fabricate artificial bioactive tissues (and possibly organs) is a popular research area. 

Examples of artificial tissue-related research topics you can study include:

The viability of artificially printed tissues

Tissue substrate and building block material studies

The ethics and efficacy of artificial tissue creation

• Medical research topics for medical students

For many medical students, research is a big driver for entering healthcare. If you’re a medical student looking for a research topic, here are some great ideas to work from:

Sleep disorders

Poor sleep quality is a growing problem, and it can significantly impact a person’s overall health. 

Examples of sleep disorder-related research topics include:

How stress affects sleep quality

The prevalence and impact of insomnia on patients with mental health conditions

Possible triggers for sleep disorder development

The impact of poor sleep quality on psychological and physical health

How melatonin supplements impact sleep quality

Alzheimer’s and dementia 

Cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise worldwide. They currently have no cure. As a result, research about these topics is in high demand. 

Examples of dementia-related research topics you could explore include:

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in a chosen population

Early onset symptoms of dementia

Possible triggers or causes of cognitive decline with age

Treatment options for dementia-like conditions

The mental and physical burden of caregiving for patients with dementia

• Lifestyle habits and public health

Modern lifestyles have profoundly impacted the average person’s daily habits, and plenty of interesting topics explore its effects. 

Examples of lifestyle and public health-related research topics include:

The nutritional intake of college students

The impact of chronic work stress on overall health

The rise of upper back and neck pain from laptop use

Prevalence and cause of repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

• Controversial medical research paper topics

Medical research is a hotbed of controversial topics, content, and areas of study. 

If you want to explore a more niche (and attention-grabbing) concept, here are some controversial medical research topics worth looking into:

The benefits and risks of medical cannabis

Depending on where you live, the legalization and use of cannabis for medical conditions is controversial for the general public and healthcare providers.

Examples of medical cannabis-related research topics that might grab your attention include:

The legalization process of medical cannabis

The impact of cannabis use on developmental milestones in youth users

Cannabis and mental health diagnoses

CBD’s impact on chronic pain

Prevalence of cannabis use in young people

The impact of maternal cannabis use on fetal development 

Understanding how THC impacts cognitive function

Human genetics

The Human Genome Project identified, mapped, and sequenced all human DNA genes. Its completion in 2003 opened up a world of exciting and controversial studies in human genetics.

Examples of human genetics-related research topics worth delving into include:

Medical genetics and the incidence of genetic-based health disorders

Behavioral genetics differences between identical twins

Genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders

Machine learning technologies for genetic research

Sexual health studies

Human sexuality and sexual health are important (yet often stigmatized) medical topics that need new research and analysis.

As a diverse field ranging from sexual orientation studies to sexual pathophysiology, examples of sexual health-related research topics include:

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections within a chosen population

Mental health conditions within the LGBTQIA+ community

The impact of untreated sexually transmitted infections

Access to safe sex resources (condoms, dental dams, etc.) in rural areas

• Health and wellness research topics

Human wellness and health are trendy topics in modern medicine as more people are interested in finding natural ways to live healthier lifestyles. 

If this field of study interests you, here are some big topics in the wellness space:

Gluten sensitivity

Gluten allergies and intolerances have risen over the past few decades. If you’re interested in exploring this topic, your options range in severity from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to full-blown anaphylaxis. 

Some examples of gluten sensitivity-related research topics include:

The pathophysiology and incidence of Celiac disease

Early onset symptoms of gluten intolerance

The prevalence of gluten allergies within a set population

Gluten allergies and the incidence of other gastrointestinal health conditions

Pollution and lung health

Living in large urban cities means regular exposure to high levels of pollutants. 

As more people become interested in protecting their lung health, examples of impactful lung health and pollution-related research topics include:

The extent of pollution in densely packed urban areas

The prevalence of pollution-based asthma in a set population

Lung capacity and function in young people

The benefits and risks of steroid therapy for asthma

Pollution risks based on geographical location

Plant-based diets

Plant-based diets like vegan and paleo diets are emerging trends in healthcare due to their limited supporting research. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the potential benefits or risks of holistic, diet-based medicine, examples of plant-based diet research topics to explore include:

Vegan and plant-based diets as part of disease management

Potential risks and benefits of specific plant-based diets

Plant-based diets and their impact on body mass index

The effect of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease management

Health supplements

Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. Many health-conscious people take supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal medicine, and more. 

Examples of health supplement-related research topics worth investigating include:

Omega-3 fish oil safety and efficacy for cardiac patients

The benefits and risks of regular vitamin D supplementation

Health supplementation regulation and product quality

The impact of social influencer marketing on consumer supplement practices

Analyzing added ingredients in protein powders

• Healthcare research topics

Working within the healthcare industry means you have insider knowledge and opportunity. Maybe you’d like to research the overall system, administration, and inherent biases that disrupt access to quality care. 

While these topics are essential to explore, it is important to note that these studies usually require approval and oversight from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This ensures the study is ethical and does not harm any subjects. 

For this reason, the IRB sets protocols that require additional planning, so consider this when mapping out your study’s timeline. 

Here are some examples of trending healthcare research areas worth pursuing:

The pros and cons of electronic health records

The rise of electronic healthcare charting and records has forever changed how medical professionals and patients interact with their health data. 

Examples of electronic health record-related research topics include:

The number of medication errors reported during a software switch

Nurse sentiment analysis of electronic charting practices

Ethical and legal studies into encrypting and storing personal health data

Inequities within healthcare access

Many barriers inhibit people from accessing the quality medical care they need. These issues result in health disparities and injustices. 

Examples of research topics about health inequities include:

The impact of social determinants of health in a set population

Early and late-stage cancer stage diagnosis in urban vs. rural populations

Affordability of life-saving medications

Health insurance limitations and their impact on overall health

Diagnostic and treatment rates across ethnicities

People who belong to an ethnic minority are more likely to experience barriers and restrictions when trying to receive quality medical care. This is due to systemic healthcare racism and bias. 

As a result, diagnostic and treatment rates in minority populations are a hot-button field of research. Examples of ethnicity-based research topics include:

Cancer biopsy rates in BIPOC women

The prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities

Access inequalities in women’s health preventative screenings

The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Black populations

• Pharmaceutical research topics

Large pharmaceutical companies are incredibly interested in investing in research to learn more about potential cures and treatments for diseases. 

If you’re interested in building a career in pharmaceutical research, here are a few examples of in-demand research topics:

Cancer treatment options

Clinical research is in high demand as pharmaceutical companies explore novel cancer treatment options outside of chemotherapy and radiation. 

Examples of cancer treatment-related research topics include:

Stem cell therapy for cancer

Oncogenic gene dysregulation and its impact on disease

Cancer-causing viral agents and their risks

Treatment efficacy based on early vs. late-stage cancer diagnosis

Cancer vaccines and targeted therapies

Immunotherapy for cancer

Pain medication alternatives

Historically, opioid medications were the primary treatment for short- and long-term pain. But, with the opioid epidemic getting worse, the need for alternative pain medications has never been more urgent. 

Examples of pain medication-related research topics include:

Opioid withdrawal symptoms and risks

Early signs of pain medication misuse

Anti-inflammatory medications for pain control

• Identify trends in your medical research with Dovetail

Are you interested in contributing life-changing research? Today’s medical research is part of the future of clinical patient care. 

As your go-to resource for speedy and accurate data analysis , we are proud to partner with healthcare researchers to innovate and improve the future of healthcare.

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Healthcare Management: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on the Citations of Research Articles Published between 1967 and 2020

Oana păduraru.

1 Doctoral School, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; moc.oohay@17tserofanao

Alina Moroșanu

2 Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania

Călin Ștefan Păduraru

3 Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunărea de Jos University, 800008 Galati, Romania; moc.liamg@urarudapnafetsnilac

Elena Mihaela Cărăușu

4 Department of Public Health and Management, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; moc.oohay@usuaracaleahim

Associated Data

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to restrictions, e.g., privacy or ethical.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the trends manifested in research literature from the field of healthcare management, with emphasis on bibliometric features and different influencing factors. For this, a search was conducted of nine academic databases between January and May 2021. Article features were registered in our database after first applying the validation criteria used for their inclusion. Then, data regarding the publication of the included articles were collected. The analysis focused on trends over time, topic, and journals in which they were published. Moreover, the effect of some factors on the citation of articles was analysed. Our results showed that the 250 analysed articles were published in 139 journals, and many of were by researchers affiliated with universities in the United States. Over time, the publication of analysed articles and their number of citations registered a continuous increase. The most common topics of focus were healthcare management systems and their challenges. In our study, we identified factors that significantly affect citation number, such as number of years since publication, the number of words in the title, and the number of authors of an article. In addition, major gaps were identified, as were new unresolved challenges that can trigger new research ideas.

1. Introduction

In recent years, there has been constant concern in the field of healthcare, considering the risks to the health of the population caused by severe pandemics, the most recent example being the COVID-19 pandemic [ 1 , 2 ]. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown more than ever that the most valuable source for generating innovation in the healthcare management field is concern and not only information. To increase the chances of generating innovations, the amount of useful information must also increase [ 3 ]. Evidence of this is the provision and rapid sharing of scientific data and information. Since the beginning of the pandemic on platforms such as GISAID or Nextstrain, the amount of data shared has increased significantly. Moreover, 117 organisations (including journals, funding agencies, disease prevention centres) signed a statement entitled “Sharing relevant data and research findings for the new coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19)” [ 3 ]. Thus, a series of practices related to the elimination of payment for accessing scientific documents and the use of preprint servers were initiated [ 4 ]. Researchers and practitioners from all over the world have continued this initiative, encouraging people to make their work available to help in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic [ 3 ]. Programs, such as CORD-19 (CORD-19, 2020), MOBS Lab, MIDAS, ELIXIR, COVID-19 Data Portal, or COVID-19 High-Performance Computing Consortium, can provide a variety of resources as well for scientific research [ 4 ]. In addition to sharing data and research tools, the rapid dissemination of research results played an important role in building an objective dialogue that helped to facilitate the process of generating new research directions [ 3 ].

Thus, researchers and academia have a key role to play in developing and promoting the highest level of healthcare [ 5 , 6 ]. The results of research in several fields contribute significantly to the identification and adoption of important solutions that help to achieve future objectives. Many of the organisations that provide healthcare services face the existence of quite serious problems that can be solved through research and innovation [ 5 ]. In other words, researchers are best placed to propose genuine innovative solutions that actively contribute to solving national and international problems [ 5 ]. Given this context, local and international authorities are free to implement research results and academic recommendations. They could provide a practical agenda that would strengthen the partnership with all stakeholders and help to accelerate the steps towards its fulfilment. On the other hand, the plurivalence of the research field is a way of understanding the fact that there is a non-linearity, and behaviours are the factors that determine the set rules [ 7 ]. They have developed through academic customs in the fields of exact sciences and humanities. The diversity and complexity of systems can be understood by identifying common traits and behavioural patterns that are based on distinct units [ 8 ]. In the areas related to health and healthcare, this diversity is provided by the multitude of involved categories (health professionals, health authorities, beneficiaries, non-governmental organisations) and the interactions between them [ 9 ]. This approach was initiated with the dissemination and publication of the results of studies and research debating the application of scientific plurivalence in the healthcare [ 10 , 11 , 12 ] or education [ 13 ] domains.

Global warming also presents a risk to the population through the rapid transmission of infectious diseases [ 11 ]. Conflicts in different geographical areas of the world have also led to the mass migration of refugees, with this category of people benefiting from minimal healthcare services [ 12 , 13 ]. Lack of well-being, cleanliness, access to medicines and healthcare services has increased the risk of spreading diseases to the most exposed categories of the population (children, women, and the elderly) [ 13 ]. The global onset of health challenges, in general, and healthcare imposed by spontaneous and unpredictable pandemics, conflicts, climate change, and the lack of economic growth have impacted welfare and the fulfilment of development goals.

Taking in consideration this context, the ability of research to understand and address some of the biggest challenges in healthcare delivery was observed. An edifying example is provided by [ 14 ], in which complexity theory is used to highlight and analyse how nurses in the United States make decisions. Another team of researchers [ 15 ] conducted a case study evaluating how decisions were made regarding the financing of hospitals in Kenya.

Therefore, in the specialised literature, there are indications according to which the study of the field of healthcare reaches a certain depth. They come as a complement to what is already known, and an examination of the influence and extent of this literature is even more beneficial. Bibliometric analysis offers an objective image of the publications from a certain area of the specialised literature. On the other hand, as specified above, bibliometric analyses cannot escape the intellectual properties contexts whereby researchers and policymakers (and funders) strive for innovative solutions in healthcare management and beyond.

Background and Objectives

Bibliometric analysis can be used to identify many papers from the recent literature that provide a general overview regarding different aspects of healthcare management. For example, some authors [ 16 ] have presented a view of healthcare-related research and the directions of future work to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Others [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] highlight dynamic trends in publications and have identified the most influential authors, institutions, countries, and research teams for a certain journal case. However, those studies are limited to broad directions on the development of healthcare. Another limitation they have is in regard to the definitions of the healthcare management field. Because some additional terms (for example, “sustainability” or “artificial intelligence”) were used to identify papers that treat aspects of healthcare management, there was a high risk of including sample documents on topics related to other fields, such as innovation, environment, or sociology. For this reason, we consider it necessary to have a clearer definition of healthcare management. In addition, a limitation of some papers that present a bibliometric analysis of healthcare management is the data source used [ 20 , 21 ]. An article search can be performed using other additional databases (for example, Scopus or Google Scholar), as suggested in another study [ 22 ].

Given these limitations, which we found by consulting the research literature, the aim of our paper is to perform a bibliometric analysis of the literature dealing with healthcare management by analysing the effect of different factors such that other researchers can then use the results in further studies. Moreover, another part of our goal is to identify aspects of healthcare management research that require further attention from researchers. This would serve to encourage future research in the areas of need, which would benefit this field of research.

In achieving this goal, we attempt to provide answers to the following questions:

• ▪ Is there variability between journals regarding the number of citations received by academic articles?
• ▪ Does the number of citations of an article vary depending on the journal in which it is published?
• ▪ Does the number of citations of an article vary depending on its topic?
• ▪ Are discrepancies in the citations of articles between areas due to dissimilarities in the level of developed research infrastructure?

Taking into consideration the proposed goal and the research questions, the following research objectives were established:

• O1: Analysis of the dynamics of scientific “production” related to healthcare management field.
• O2: Highlighting scientific progress as well as identifying the most prolific researchers, institutions, and countries in which research in this field is carried out [ 23 ].
• O3: The study of the influence of some factors upon which the citations of the articles dealing with this topic are dependent.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. international literature search, 2.1.1. databases.

To identify articles dealing with the topic of healthcare management, international databases, such as JAMA Network, JSTOR, PMC, PubMed, SAGE, ScienceDirect, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Clarivate, were consulted. This activity took place between January and May 2021. Our approach involved the use of keywords that relate to healthcare management. No limits have been imposed for identifying articles, research reports, reviews, or books. In addition, the number of citations was used in cases where it was necessary to identify papers of high scientific relevance. In total, by searching the nine international databases, 1594 articles were identified. They were downloaded into an Excel spreadsheet, and duplicates were then removed. After this stage, 943 articles remained, and their details were saved in another spreadsheet in Excel with the purpose being to examine them so that only those titles that met the requirements specified above are retained for analysis. For those 943 articles, the titles/abstracts were checked, and 651 of them were excluded on the basis that their content was strongly related to other fields. We wanted to ensure that we would only consider articles that are not related to other fields for analysis and that there were no other compelling reasons for exclusion. Thus, we obtained 292 articles for which another evaluation was conducted, and other reasons for exclusion were identified in the case of another 42 articles ( Table 1 ).

Other reasons for excluding articles from the analysis.

After this stage, 250 articles were retained and subjected to analysis, although another 1344 had already been excluded in earlier stages because they did not meet the inclusion criteria during verification.

Of the 250 articles considered eligible for analysis, the full text in English was accessed for 223 articles, thus making it possible to achieve a more detailed and clear classification of the content. In the case of an additional 20 articles that were included in the bibliometric analysis and were published in journals in English, their text was only partially accessible, and in the case of the final 7 articles, the text was not available in English. Figure 1 presents a summary of the details concerning the search strategy.

Research strategy applied for the selection of articles included in analysis.

2.1.2. Keywords

To identify the most appropriate keywords to use in identifying articles dealing with healthcare management topic, it was necessary to first define this concept. Thus, in some sources [ 24 ], healthcare management is defined as “the profession that provide leadership and direction to organizations that deliver personal health services, and to divisions, departments, units, or services within those organisations”. Based on this definition, we can consider that healthcare management involves the planning and coordination of nonclinical activities within healthcare systems, organisations, and networks.

Database searching was conducted using “healthcare management” OR “healthcare hospital” OR “health system” OR “primary care” OR “clinical management” OR “acute care” OR “healthcare practice” OR “medical practice” OR “healthcare networks” OR “nursing management”. Those keywords must occur in the article’s title.

References identified using these keywords were managed using EndNote. Thus, duplicates were much more easily found and then removed from our list. All references that met our criteria were retained for analysis. In the next step, all data were exported to an Excel spreadsheet in which variables represent each of the researched aspects were created. For example, to quantify the number of authors of an article, the variable “Author” was created. To include an article in a certain category that designates the research area, the variable “Topic” was created. To identify the journal in which the article was published, the variable “Journal” was created, or to see the country from which most articles came, the variable “Country” was created. After the database was created, the statistical program R was used to obtain the results.

2.1.3. Criteria Used to Include Articles in the Analysis

The analysis will include articles published in academic journals with impact factors indexed in international databases and referring to healthcare management. It was also intended that these articles include results obtained not only by specialists who provide medical assistance (nurses, doctors) or specialised websites of institutions (such as hospitals, retirement homes) but also people specialised in other fields related to health (for example, education, ethics, policies, research).

Articles that, through their published results, promote aspects of reference to healthcare management, in general, were initially included in our archive. Following this action, some were removed because it was later found that they did not refer to healthcare and care platforms, the profession, or issues related to the provision of medical care services. Those articles referring to interventions or health promotion issues carried out at the population level were not included.

Editorial works, books, chapters, and articles published in volumes of certain correlations were also excluded because it was considered that the information regarding them was either not available or incomplete. This includes articles that, although initially not published in English, have a summary in English based on which it can be verified that they meet our criteria.

2.2. Bibliometric Analysis

2.2.1. searching bibliometric data.

The bibliometric data (year of publication, number of authors, the journal in which it was published, the country of residence of the main author) of each article were recorded from the text of the paper, from the journal that published the article, or from the database in which the journal was indexed. In some cases, it was found that the full text was not available, was inaccessible to the public in its entirety, or was not written in English.

2.2.2. Articles Content Evaluation

At this stage, the articles were grouped together, considering their content, the type, and the topic. This involved classifying articles as empirical or non-empirical. The articles that, through the published results, refer to a certain conceptual framework, methods of data analysis, or ways of interpreting some results were considered empirical. Included in the category of non-empirical works were case studies, reviews, editorials, and debates on conceptual criteria.

Another important aspect refers to the analysis of the content of the registered articles. Thus, a code was assigned to each article and comparisons were conducted, and changes were then made to the codes to identify the most frequently encountered research topics. These details were identified from the title of the articles or their abstract. These were also identified for articles in which the summary did not provide sufficient detail. In those cases, the full verification of the article content was carried out where the text was available in English.

2.2.3. Determination of Articles Influence

To determine the influence that an article has in the literature of the healthcare management field, the number of citations received over time was considered. For this purpose, Google Scholar was consulted. In addition, the references of each article whose text could be accessed and viewed in full version were considered. An essential condition was that the reference should not be made by a publication evaluated by fellow authors, which allowed ensuring greater objectivity in terms of considering other types of academic results. It is also important to mention that no patients or other categories of the population were involved in this research.

2.3. Evaluation of Article Influence

It is known that the number of citations received by an article is associated with his scientific quality. The impact factor (IF), Hirsch index (H index), crown indicator, and other appropriate metrics that take the citation number into consideration were calculated. In addition, scientific search engines used for finding references (such as Google Scholar) show the list of results according to the number of citations [ 25 ]. For these reasons, the number of citations that a scientific paper in the field of healthcare management receives is an important element used to assess the impact of research. However, the number of citations of an article may be influenced by different factors. According to [ 26 , 27 , 28 ], the number of citations of an article is affected by factors such as their length, author number, number of institutions at which the authors are affiliated, number of words in the title, number of cited references, topic, or time since publication.

Articles length (the number of pages) could be a factor that can significantly affect the citations received. A large article can reflect a greater scientific complexity and a higher quality of used methodology; in addition, a lengthier article is expected to contain a greater amount of information, increasing the possibility that it can be appropriated to be cited by other researchers [ 29 ]. In other words, in articles with a larger number of pages compared to those with a smaller number, the research methodology and the obtained results could be presented and discussed more clearly and in detail. Therefore, their impact on citation number could be higher.

The number of authors attracts citation because it is considered that the higher number of authors of an article can determine more traffic for the paper, and so the chances of obtaining more citation are increased [ 30 , 31 ]. On the other hand, articles that cite more references and more publications referenced in different research platforms get a fairly large number of citations.

The number of institutions at which the authors of an article are affiliated is also important. Multiple affiliation is increasingly considered as stimulating knowledge exchange. An individual scientist may seek affiliations to obtain access to research resources, research infrastructure, or career opportunities. Co-authorship can be an efficient way of developing the competencies of a research group, and co-affiliation may be a way of forming stronger connections between researchers and institutions [ 32 ].

Articles title length is perceived as having an important role in the strategy of attracting audience and citations [ 33 ]. Longer titles contain more words and, therefore, more potential keywords, increasing the chances of an article being found easier. On the other hand, longer titles may be harder to digest and thus less attractive [ 34 ].

The number of references in healthcare management articles is another factor that can affect the citation. The reason may be related to the reason researchers from this field cite other’s work. From a theoretical perspective, a reference list of high quality is a comprehensive and well-balanced selection of papers, which can support the content presented in a certain article. Researchers usually reach this by performing a retrospective search and selection of papers with content that is pertinent to that of their article, to be read and cited. Well-chosen and mentioned bibliographic references can support the novelty, value, and visibility of an article. Citations can link a study to other studies, thus creating a network of knowledge that allows other researchers to identify studies that are relevant in general and relevant to them.

Commonly, articles published recently have a limited number of citations, an increase being seen after 3 or 5 years since publication [ 35 ]. Therefore, when analysing citation frequencies, the temporal dimension is important too.

Furthermore, the nationality of the authors is important. This can show that a specific research culture that is associated with a certain geographical area can influence the progress of research in a certain field and the number of citations received.

Giving this context, we want to consider those factors identified in the research literature and to verify if those results are also the same in our case. Therefore, one of our research objectives is to identify the factors associated with obtaining citations so that we can explain their effect and offer useful suggestions for increasing citations. To do this, the following variables will be considered for analysis: journal name, number of title words, number of authors, time since each article was published, the paper length (pages number), the number of references in each article, and the country of the affiliated institution of the first author. The characteristics of those variables are presented in Table 2 .

Studied variables and their characteristics.

Data Analysis Methods

A multilevel regression model was used to study the influence of factors, such as article author number, article topic, researcher affiliation, or the number of words in the title, on the number of citations of the considered articles. Multilevel models describe hierarchical structures referring to quantifications taken on the same unit at various moments, e.g., physical characteristics that are strongly correlated compared to previous assessments from different units. Multilevel models are used for the analysis of such dependency.

Multilevel modelling allows us to analyse the type of between-group variability and the outcomes of a group-level attribute on single outcomes. To offer an answer to our research questions, we opted for a two-level pattern with articles at level 1, nested with groups at level 2. Moreover, in a two-level model, residuals are divided into two parts, suitable for the two levels in the data frame. The random effects (group-level residuals) are noted by u i and the individual residuals group is noted by e ij . The two-level extensions that allow for group effects are given by

where β 0 is the gross average of Y (through all groups). The average of Y for group j is β 0 + u j . The residual u j is the difference between the average of group j and of the total. The individual-level residual e i j is the difference between the Y value for the i unit and that unit’s mean group e i j = Y i j − ( β 0 + u j ) . Residuals for both levels are assumed to be normally distributed with 0 means: u j ~ N ( 0 , σ u 2 ) and e i j ~ N ( 0 , σ e 2 ) . The simplest multilevel model with one explanatory variable is

In this model, the relationship between Y and X is expressed by a direct line with intercept β 0 and slope β 1 .

3.1. Results Regarding the Dynamic of Scientific Production Related to the Healthcare Management Field

The 250 articles included in the analysis come from 139 different journals in the field of healthcare management, and they have a varied impact. Table 3 presents the journals in which the most articles in this field were published.

The first 15 journals in which healthcare management articles have been published.

The results show that the journal in which the highest number of articles in the field of healthcare management was published is JAMA (n = 34), followed by Health System in Transition (n = 11) and Libyan Journal of Medicine (n = 7).

Regarding the affiliation of the main author, it was observed that the analysed articles are from 48 countries. The United States 47% (n = 117), the United Kingdom 6% (n = 16), Australia 0.5% (n = 13), and Canada 4% (n = 9) together accounted for 62% of the total items included in the analysis, as can be seen in Figure 2 . Other countries with a higher contribution are India, China, Iran, Italy, and Libya (all with six published articles. each with a contribution of 2%).

Distribution of published articles in the domain of healthcare management worldwide.

Although most of the articles have been published by authors who are affiliated with universities in only a few countries, the results show that there has been significant growth in recent years, especially in the early period of the pandemic ( Figure 3 ). This result can show an increasing speed regarding the dissemination of research findings, many journals prioritising the processing of articles involving COVID-19. Related to this aspect, an analysis of a limited number of journals showed that the number of days between an article submission and article publication during the pandemic was decreased by almost half compared to that before the pandemic.

The number of articles and number of citations according to year.

Before 2000, the only countries that published literature on healthcare management were the United States, the United Kingdom, or Germany; since 2015, the articles have come from 19 different countries. The published articles also come from authors affiliated with universities from Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

3.2. Results Regarding Articles Topic

All articles included in the analysis could be classified with full and accessible text. Around 12.4% of them ( n = 31) treated the conceptual elements regarding healthcare management as well as elements of “literature review” ( Table 4 ).

Number articles and citations according to topic.

Around 44.5% of the articles deal with management systems in terms of healthcare and the encountered challenges and the quality of these services. Both topics are addressed mainly in works by researchers from the United States (n = 46), Canada (n = 7), Australia (n = 5), and the United Kingdom (n = 4).

The results of such studies were obtained by large groups of researchers, with the number of authors of the articles exceeding 10 (in the case of articles published by authors in the United States or Canada). This result shows that there are many researchers who also contributed to the article, and these results are often being obtained because of large research projects that require multidisciplinary teams.

Moreover, as the field of healthcare management develops, its magnitude is reflected in the number of authors who publish their scientific papers. Lately, more and more often, the research is based on the efforts of larger groups of researchers. There is also a disadvantage of having many authors since there have been cases in which the article cannot be reviewed because almost all the experts in a certain field were among its authors.

Another important aspect highlighted by the analysed articles is the fact that in the last 2 years, the number of articles that were published in the domain of healthcare management has greatly increased. Most of the articles published in these 2 years refer to healthcare management systems and their challenges, the quality of these services, or access to them.

This result is not accidental, as more and more countries are facing many problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For decisions to be made about healthcare for individual patients and public health policies, the best confirmations available based on research are needed. This creates the framework for ensuring best practices and reducing variations in the provision of healthcare. For this reason, the large number of articles is justified, requiring the latest and most reliable information.

Going deeper into the content of the selected articles, it was possible to develop broader categories in terms of the addressed topic, with several topics being frequently prominent. These topics are listed in Table 3 and refer to “Characteristics of health systems in healthcare management”, “Impact of factors on healthcare management”, “Healthcare legislation”, or “Good management practices”.

Although health professionals have addressed various topics dealing with healthcare management since 1967, it was only in 2015 that articles began to focus on change, growth, and implementation, research, and policy.

3.3. Influential Articles and the Effect of Factors on Which the Citation of Analysed Articles Depend

The number of citations of an article in a certain period, regardless of the field, can show the importance and appreciation given to the results obtained by members of the medical, scientific community.

The number of citations of each article was used to highlight the influence of the analysed articles. In total, the average number of citations is 101, although the degree of asymmetry is high (median = 20.5, min. = 3, max. = 1752).

The most influential article in our database was published in Nursing Outlook, which was cited 1752 times. The article deals with the effect of exhaustion, the high degree of dissatisfaction with the workplace among nurses, and the organisational support they receive on the quality of healthcare. Another article with a high number of citations (1612) was published in JAMA. In this study, the authors aimed to identify issues related to the quality of healthcare in the United States, including measuring, evaluating, and improving it in healthcare facilities both in the public and private sectors.

Articles published in journals, such as Nursing Outlook, Journal of Service Research, Operations Research, Medical Care, The Lancet, or Environment and Behaviour, have a high number of citations. In addition, articles written by American, Greek, and Dutch authors recorded a high number of citations, while authors from countries such as Jamaica, Qatar, or Romania had a low number of citations.

The evolution over time of the distribution of the mean number of citations can be observed in Figure 3 . It can be easily seen that the articles that were most often cited are those published in the first half of the analysed period (between 1975–2013). This result may show that articles that have recorded more citations have a higher intensity of impact on the volume of knowledge. Furthermore, from Figure 3 , it can be observed that a high number of articles appeared in the early period of the pandemic. Comparing the number of published articles and the number of citations received, we can believe that research topics from the healthcare management field became more actual and diverse. Regarding this, some inherent risks can be identified. One of the highest risks can be the dissemination of poor-quality research and rapid scientific publication, the quantity of information and processing speed being at an impressive level in this period.

To evaluate the effects of some factors on article citation, a multilevel model was used. Initially, a multilevel model that allows for estimating the journal effects on citation number and with explanatory variables was used. The obtained results are presented in Table 5 .

The effect of different factors on article citations and a coefficient of random effects according to journal.

From Table 5 , article citation is strongly affected by the time since that article was published. This effect is statistically significant because the estimated coefficient is more than five times its standard error.

Another factor that has a high effect on article citations is the article topic. Our results show that, for topics such as “Impact of different factors on healthcare management” and “Challenges of healthcare management”, the obtained coefficients were higher than the standard error.

However, we have considered only the main effects of these variables, and the relationship between the number of article citations and the explanatory variables may depend on an interaction effect between some explanatory variables. We added those interactions to the model, with estimates presented in Table 6 . For the results presented in Table 6 , the estimated coefficients for the interaction between variables are higher than their standard errors. However, the addition of those interaction effects does little to explain the differences between journals: the journal-level variance has only increased from 10,643 to 10,752.

The effect of different factors on article citations with the interaction effect of explanatory variables and a coefficient for random effects according to journal.

To compare the two estimated models, the likelihood ratio test statistics were calculated ( Table 7 ).

Likelihood ration test statistics.

Signif. codes: 0 ‘***’ 0.001.

From the low Pr (>χ 2 ) value, we conclude that there is evidence that the second model (Model 2) can more adequately explain the data structure and the effect of interaction between variables, which differs across journals.

4. Limitations

The limitation of our study arises from the use of quantitative methods to review the papers published in the healthcare management field. The review relied on the analysis of bibliographic data associated with the documents rather than an examination of the research findings. Thus, the review’s implications are limited to the general directions of the studied field rather than the synthesis of article results. Thus, our results can be used as a starting point for future analyses aimed at the development of this field.

5. Discussions

In our study, we aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of the research literature of articles that treated topics in the healthcare management field. We identified trends in the publication of analysed articles, with an evident global spreading of ideas and into specific topic themes. In addition, we found substantial evidence leading us to make the following statement: a responsible author will publish the results of high-quality research in a way that is easy to understand and attractive, guaranteeing that it will be widely read by several categories of audience and thus accumulating more citations.

Our study delivered additional types of results. Thus, from the results regarding article publication, we saw that the journals in which most of the analysed articles were published are JAMA, Health System in Transition, and Libyan Journal of Medicine.

Regarding the affiliation of the main author, we found that most of the analysed articles are written by researchers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. This result shows that a high number of analysed articles were published by researchers from developed countries. Similar results were reported for studies in other branches of medicine, such as general medicine [ 36 ] and neurology [ 37 ]. Regarding the small number of articles published by authors from developing countries, it can be considered that both their quantity and quality may be affected by several barriers, such as poor funding, lack of facilities to support research activities, lack of government incentives, or inadequate support. These issues can contribute to maintaining a scientific environment and research conditions that do not meet the competitive standards of prestigious journals. Certainly, journals can publish research results that are of interest to their readers. However, where possible, journals could support the dissemination of healthcare research conducted in the developing world by setting up international advisory boards to help ensure a greater degree of diversity.

Another result of the study was that before 2000, the only countries that published articles on healthcare management were the United States, United Kingdom, or Germany, and since 2015, articles have come from 19 different countries. This result shows that researchers from different countries have started to be more active since 2000. One possible explanation is that international cooperation in healthcare research between different countries has varied significantly, with the interest in research being gradually spread across multiple aspects of this field. Moreover, after 2000, an increasing trend of scientific production on healthcare management topics can be observed. The geographical distribution of analysed articles reveals that in the last two decades, the research has spread in countries from continents, such as North America and Europe. This result is not surprising, taking into consideration that the developed countries in North America and Europe have a stronger academic research infrastructure in healthcare management than less developed nations since they have more research institutes, well-established data management systems, and more assets allocated for research. The number of authors who are affiliated with research institutions in regions such as Asia, South America, or Africa was lower, and the dissemination of the results of their inquiry manifested later (after 2000).

The interest shown in healthcare management research can, however, also be affected by the healthcare system model specific to each nation or region. Healthcare systems in developed nations (for example, Regional Health Systems (RHS) in Singapore, Managed Care in the United States, or National Health Services (NHS) in the United Kingdom) have implemented several systematised medical lines of action [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. The requirement for high-quality healthcare services has elevated many inquiries about health systems. For example, about 10 years ago, China and India deployed health reformation, setting out a set of policies to integrate healthcare services to improve their quality [ 41 ]. The objectives of healthcare reformation have made research topics catchier, and research can be more substantially supported and for longer, including through data availability and funding. In addition, the ways for cooperation between academic institutions have also influenced local research productivity [ 42 , 43 ].

Given our results and the results of other studies [ 44 , 45 ], we consider that the degree of economic development of a country or region can influence the production of scientific articles, with our analysis reporting a high growth in scientific production in more developed countries. Regarding this result, we also found evidence of countries with a lower level of GDP per capita for which the scientific production is high ( Table 8 ). This can suggest that there is not a clear link between economic development and scientific production in this field. Instead, this may show an effort made by governments in those countries in terms of investments in healthcare or the interest manifested by their scientific community for this field.

Countries with the highest scientific production in our analysis in relation to GDP per capita and heath expenditure per capita.

Source: World Bank and OECD Health Statistics 2021, WHO Global Health Expenditure Database.

Further, these results suggest that there may be a dilemma between healthcare ethics and financial constraints. In the literature, many empirical studies describing health employees’ dilemmas and decision-making processes can be identified [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. These studies have, however, focused on developed countries, with a limited number of studies presenting results for the case of low and middle-income countries. Furthermore, the available studies are small qualitative studies [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ].

In our paper, we also aimed to analyse the relationship between the number of articles citations and several factors. Some of those factors were number of authors of an article and the country with which the principal author is affiliated. We assumed that we could identify a correlation between these factors and the number of citations, with a higher number of authors bringing more information as well as personal grid contacts or research infrastructure. Even if authors such as [ 56 , 57 ] reported such effects in their papers, our results showed that there is an effect of author number but not author affiliation. Statistically significant effects were identified regarding the time since an article was published, showing that the temporal dimension is important. Articles that were recently published have not yet been cited, and the number of citations grows with time. In other words, the older an article, the more likely it is to be cited more than once [ 58 ].

Another important factor that has a significant effect on the number of articles citations is the title length (number of words in the title). We found that this factor has a negative effect on article citations. Similar results were also found by other researchers [ 59 , 60 ], with their argument being that the shortest titles generate the most citations. However, this effect could depend on differences between fields or research topics. Regarding this, the authors of [ 61 ] showed that in medicine, shorter titles often have less citations. On the other hand, the authors of [ 62 ] argued that this relationship became inverted around the year 2000 from negative to positive. This situation is explained by the growing volume of online search engines (for example, Web of Knowledge was released in 2002, Scopus in 2004, and Clarivate in 2016). It seems that short titles perform better when the search is made manually, while longer titles produce more hits in online searches, ensuring a higher degree of discoverability and a higher number of citations.

Another important effect on article citations is due to the interaction between the number of pages in an article and the time since it was published. Considered alone, the variable representing the number of pages does not seem to influence the number of citations. Regarding those results, the authors of [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ] showed that the pagination affects the number of article citations depending on the discipline. In general, in the field of medicine, longer articles have more content, and the readers have a greater opportunity to find and access important info, which is conducive to a higher number of citations.

6. Conclusions

This paper provides an overview of research tendencies, challenges in healthcare management research, and possible future research perspectives. Healthcare research has grown significantly since 2000. Our results show that there are regional disparities in scientific output that are related to some aspects of economic development, specificities of healthcare systems, and academic association models.

In the paper, we also evaluated the factors influencing the number of citations of the analysed articles published in journals from the healthcare management field. We assume that the significance of identified factors will be sensitive to the growth of other approaches regarding impact quantification.

Thus, our results are useful in providing evidence related to the researched issues. Moreover, they can be used before planning or deciding a strategy for researching various aspects related to healthcare management. Thus, the awareness of the existence of a solid fund of knowledge increases, and the existing gaps can be identified, or some conceptual and methodological inconveniences can be avoided. On the other hand, exploring these data sources can help pave the way for future knowledge management (including science policy), as well as social policy decisions. In addition, our analysis is helpful in identifying unsatisfied challenges in the studied field that can trigger new ideas for further research.

Acknowledgments

This research is part of the doctoral research project “Healthcare management in hospitals from the North-East Region of Romania”, endorsed by the Research Ethics Commission (Registration No. 128/24.11.2021) from Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania.

Author Contributions

For this article, the following describes the contribution of each author: conceptualisation, O.P., E.M.C. and C.Ș.P.; methodology, A.M.; validation, E.M.C., O.P. and C.Ș.P.; formal analysis, A.M.; investigation, A.M.; resources, A.M.; data curation, A.M.; writing—original draft, A.M.; writing—review and editing, O.P. and C.Ș.P.; supervision, E.M.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Healthcare Research Paper Topics

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100 Healthcare Research Paper Topics

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1. Healthcare Policy and Management

• The Impact of Health Policies on Access to Care
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Health Insurance Programs
• Analyzing the Role of Healthcare Leadership in Quality Improvement
• Exploring Strategies for Healthcare Cost Containment
• Investigating the Relationship Between Healthcare Regulations and Patient Outcomes
• Evaluating the Impact of Electronic Health Records on Healthcare Delivery
• Examining the Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Healthcare
• Analyzing the Influence of Political Factors on Healthcare Decision-Making
• Assessing the Ethical Implications of Resource Allocation in Healthcare
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Health Promotion Programs in Primary Care Settings

2. Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues

• Analyzing the Ethical Challenges of Healthcare Research Involving Human Subjects
• Exploring the Impact of Cultural and Religious Beliefs on Healthcare Decision-Making
• Examining Legal Issues in End-of-Life Care and Advance Directives
• Investigating the Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing and Personalized Medicine
• Assessing the Ethical Dilemmas in Access to Experimental Treatments
• Exploring the Role of Ethics Committees in Healthcare Organizations
• Analyzing the Intersection of Healthcare Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
• Evaluating the Legal and Ethical Implications of Telemedicine
• Investigating the Ethics of Healthcare Resource Allocation during Public Health Emergencies
• Examining the Legal and Ethical Issues of Patient Privacy in the Digital Age

3. Healthcare Technology and Innovation

• Assessing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Diagnostics
• Exploring the Potential of Wearable Devices for Remote Patient Monitoring
• Investigating the Role of Big Data Analytics in Healthcare Decision-Making
• Analyzing the Use of Robotics in Surgery and Patient Care
• Examining the Impact of Telehealth on Healthcare Access and Delivery
• Evaluating the Benefits and Challenges of Electronic Health Records Implementation
• Exploring the Applications of Virtual Reality in Healthcare Education and Training
• Investigating the Role of Mobile Health Applications in Health Behavior Change
• Assessing the Potential of Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Data Security
• Analyzing the Ethical and Social Implications of Genetic Engineering in Healthcare

4. Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

• Evaluating the Impact of Patient-Centered Care on Health Outcomes
• Analyzing the Role of Quality Improvement Initiatives in Reducing Medical Errors
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Medication Safety Practices in Healthcare Settings
• Exploring Strategies to Improve Healthcare Communication and Interprofessional Collaboration
• Investigating the Relationship Between Nursing Workforce and Patient Safety
• Examining the Impact of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Healthcare Quality
• Analyzing the Role of Patient Engagement in Enhancing Healthcare Quality
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare Process Improvement
• Exploring the Role of Health Information Technology in Enhancing Patient Safety
• Investigating the Influence of Organizational Culture on Healthcare Quality and Safety

5. Mental Health and Psychological Well-being

• Analyzing the Impact of Stigma on Mental Health Help-Seeking Behavior
• Exploring the Effectiveness of Psychotherapy Approaches in Treating Mental Health Disorders
• Assessing the Role of Early Intervention in Preventing Mental Health Disorders
• Investigating the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health Outcomes
• Examining the Intersection of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders
• Evaluating the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Psychological Well-being
• Exploring the Role of Social Support in Mental Health Recovery
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Mental Health Awareness Campaigns
• Investigating the Influence of Cultural Factors on Mental Health Help-Seeking Behavior
• Examining the Mental Health Needs and Challenges among Specific Populations (e.g., LGBTQ+, Veterans, Refugees)

6. Chronic Diseases and their Management

• Assessing the Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
• Exploring the Role of Community-Based Interventions in Chronic Disease Control
• Investigating the Relationship Between Social Determinants of Health and Chronic Disease Burden
• Analyzing the Use of Digital Health Technologies in Chronic Disease Management
• Examining the Impact of Health Literacy on Chronic Disease Outcomes
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Self-Management Programs for Chronic Conditions
• Exploring the Role of Healthcare Providers in Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
• Analyzing the Impact of Health Policies on Chronic Disease Prevention Efforts
• Investigating the Relationship Between Mental Health and Chronic Disease Management
• Examining the Disparities in Access to Chronic Disease Care and Treatment

7. Healthcare Disparities and Access to Care

• Analyzing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare Access and Quality
• Exploring the Role of Socioeconomic Factors in Healthcare Disparities
• Assessing the Impact of Geographic Location on Healthcare Access and Health Outcomes
• Investigating Gender Disparities in Healthcare Utilization and Treatment
• Examining the Influence of Health Insurance Status on Healthcare Disparities
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Culturally Competent Care in Reducing Disparities
• Exploring the Relationship Between Language Barriers and Healthcare Access
• Analyzing the Impact of Implicit Bias on Healthcare Disparities
• Investigating the Role of Health Literacy in Healthcare Disparities
• Examining the Disparities in Mental Health Services and Access to Mental Healthcare

8. Healthcare Education and Training

• Assessing the Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Training in Healthcare Education
• Exploring the Role of Interprofessional Education in Improving Collaborative Practice
• Investigating the Impact of Technology-Enhanced Learning in Healthcare Education
• Analyzing the Use of Gamification in Healthcare Training and Skill Development
• Examining the Role of Continuing Education in Enhancing Healthcare Providers’ Competence
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mentorship Programs in Healthcare Education
• Exploring Strategies to Address Cultural Competence in Healthcare Education
• Analyzing the Role of Reflective Practice in Healthcare Professional Development
• Investigating the Use of Team-Based Learning in Healthcare Education
• Examining the Impact of Experiential Learning in Healthcare Training Programs

9. Public Health and Preventive Medicine

• Assessing the Impact of Vaccination Programs on Public Health Outcomes
• Exploring the Role of Health Promotion Campaigns in Preventing Non-communicable Diseases
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Community-Based Interventions in Disease Prevention
• Analyzing the Impact of Environmental Factors on Public Health
• Examining the Role of Social Determinants of Health in Health Disparities
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Public Health Policies in Tobacco Control
• Exploring Strategies for Preventing and Managing Infectious Diseases
• Analyzing the Role of Health Education in Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
• Investigating the Influence of Media on Public Health Perceptions and Behaviors
• Examining the Challenges and Opportunities in Global Health Initiatives

10. Emerging Topics in Healthcare Research

• Assessing the Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Exploring the Role of Precision Medicine in Personalized Healthcare
• Investigating the Impact of Genomic Research on Healthcare Delivery
• Analyzing the Use of Telemedicine in Rural and Underserved Areas
• Examining the Integration of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Healthcare
• Evaluating the Potential of Digital Therapeutics in Disease Management
• Exploring the Ethical Considerations of Gene Editing Technologies in Healthcare
• Analyzing the Influence of Social Media on Healthcare Decision-Making
• Investigating the Role of Health Information Exchange in Coordinated Care
• Examining the Implications of Health Equity in Healthcare Research and Practice

This comprehensive list of healthcare research paper topics encompasses a wide range of areas within the healthcare field. Each category offers diverse research ideas that can inspire students in the health sciences to explore pressing issues, propose innovative solutions, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare knowledge. Whether you are interested in healthcare policy, ethics, technology, mental health, chronic diseases, healthcare disparities, education, public health, or emerging healthcare research paper topics, this list serves as a valuable resource to kickstart your research journey. Choose a topic that resonates with you, aligns with your academic goals, and enables you to make a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare research. Remember, the pursuit of knowledge and the drive to improve healthcare practices are at the heart of your journey as a student in the health sciences.

Choosing Healthcare Research Paper Topics

Choosing the right healthcare research paper topic is a crucial step in conducting a successful and impactful study. With the vast array of healthcare issues and areas to explore, it can be challenging to narrow down your focus. To help you navigate this process effectively, we have compiled expert advice and ten essential tips for selecting compelling healthcare research paper topics. Consider these insights as you embark on your research journey in the dynamic field of healthcare:

• Follow Your Passion : Choose a topic that genuinely interests you. Passion and enthusiasm will drive your motivation, ensuring that you remain engaged throughout the research process.
• Stay Informed : Keep up with the latest healthcare trends, emerging issues, and ongoing debates. Stay informed through reputable sources, academic journals, conferences, and professional networks to identify current and relevant research gaps.
• Identify a Research Gap : Conduct a thorough literature review to identify areas where there is a need for further research. Look for unanswered questions, controversies, or gaps in knowledge that you can address in your study.
• Consider Relevance and Significance : Choose a topic that is relevant to current healthcare challenges or contributes to improving healthcare practices, policies, or patient outcomes. Aim for a topic that has real-world implications and societal impact.
• Delve into Specific Areas : Narrow down your focus by selecting a specific aspect or subtopic within the broad field of healthcare. This allows for a more focused and in-depth analysis of the chosen area.
• Consult with Your Advisor or Faculty : Seek guidance from your research advisor or faculty members who specialize in healthcare research. They can provide valuable insights, help you refine your topic, and direct you to relevant literature and resources.
• Brainstorm with Peers : Engage in discussions with your peers and classmates to explore different perspectives and gain inspiration. Collaborative brainstorming sessions can generate new ideas and offer fresh insights.
• Consider Ethical Considerations : Take ethical considerations into account when selecting a healthcare research topic. Ensure that your research adheres to ethical guidelines and respects the rights and privacy of participants, especially in studies involving human subjects.
• Think Interdisciplinary : Consider interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare research. Explore how other disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, economics, or technology, intersect with healthcare, providing a broader perspective and enhancing the depth of your research.
• Feasibility and Available Resources : Assess the feasibility of your chosen topic, considering the resources, time, and data availability required for your research. Ensure that you have access to relevant data sources, research tools, and necessary support to carry out your study effectively.

By following these expert tips, you will be equipped to choose a healthcare research paper topic that aligns with your interests, is relevant to current healthcare challenges, and has the potential to make a meaningful impact in the field. Remember, selecting the right topic sets the foundation for a successful research endeavor, allowing you to contribute to the advancement of healthcare knowledge and practices.

How to Write a Healthcare Research Paper

Writing a healthcare research paper requires careful planning, organization, and attention to detail. To help you navigate the intricacies of the writing process, we have compiled ten essential tips to guide you towards crafting a well-written and impactful healthcare research paper. Follow these expert recommendations to enhance the quality and effectiveness of your research paper:

• Develop a Clear Research Question : Start by formulating a clear and concise research question that will serve as the central focus of your paper. Ensure that your question is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Conduct a Thorough Literature Review : Before diving into your research, conduct a comprehensive literature review to familiarize yourself with existing knowledge on the topic. Identify key theories, concepts, methodologies, and gaps in the literature that your research aims to address.
• Create a Solid Research Design : Design a robust research plan that aligns with your research question. Define your study population, sampling strategy, data collection methods, and statistical analyses. A well-designed research plan enhances the validity and reliability of your findings.
• Collect and Analyze Data : Implement your data collection methods, ensuring ethical considerations and adherence to research protocols. Once collected, analyze the data using appropriate statistical techniques and tools. Provide a clear description of your analytical methods.
• Structure your Paper Effectively : Organize your research paper into logical sections, including an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Use headings and subheadings to enhance readability and guide the reader through your paper.
• Write a Compelling Introduction : Start your paper with a strong introduction that captures the reader’s attention and provides a concise overview of the research topic, objectives, and significance. Clearly state your research question and the rationale for your study.
• Present Clear and Concise Results : Present your research findings in a clear and concise manner. Use tables, graphs, and figures where appropriate to enhance the readability of your results. Provide a comprehensive interpretation of the results, highlighting key findings and their implications.
• Engage in Critical Analysis and Discussion : Analyze and interpret your findings in the context of existing literature. Discuss the strengths and limitations of your study, addressing potential biases or confounders. Consider alternative explanations and provide a thoughtful discussion of the implications of your findings.
• Follow Proper Citation and Referencing Guidelines : Adhere to the appropriate citation style (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago) consistently throughout your paper. Cite all sources accurately and include a comprehensive list of references at the end of your paper.
• Revise and Edit : Before finalizing your research paper, revise and edit it thoroughly. Pay attention to clarity, coherence, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Ensure that your arguments flow logically and that your paper is well-structured and cohesive.

By following these tips, you will be well-equipped to write a high-quality healthcare research paper that effectively communicates your findings, contributes to the existing knowledge in the field, and engages readers with your insights and conclusions. Remember to seek feedback from your peers, professors, or research advisors to further refine your paper and ensure its overall excellence.

iResearchNet’s Custom Writing Services

At iResearchNet, we understand the challenges students face when it comes to writing healthcare research papers. To support you in your academic journey and ensure the highest quality of your work, we offer a comprehensive range of writing services. With a team of expert degree-holding writers and a commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to providing customized solutions tailored to your specific needs. Here are the features that set our writing services apart:

• Expert Degree-Holding Writers : Our team consists of highly qualified writers with advanced degrees in healthcare and related fields. They possess in-depth knowledge and expertise in various areas of healthcare, ensuring that your research paper is handled by professionals with subject matter expertise.
• Custom Written Works : We understand the importance of originality and uniqueness in academic writing. Our writers craft each research paper from scratch, tailoring it to your specific requirements and ensuring that it is entirely original and plagiarism-free.
• In-Depth Research : Our writers are skilled in conducting extensive research using reputable sources. They delve deep into the literature to gather the most relevant and up-to-date information, providing a solid foundation for your research paper.
• Custom Formatting : We offer custom formatting options to meet the specific guidelines of your institution and chosen citation style. Whether it’s APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, or any other formatting style, our writers are well-versed in the intricacies of each.
• Top Quality : We are committed to delivering research papers of the highest quality. Our writers follow strict quality control measures to ensure that your paper meets the academic standards, including proper structure, clarity of writing, and logical flow of ideas.
• Customized Solutions : We recognize that every research paper is unique. Our writers work closely with you to understand your research objectives, guidelines, and preferences. They tailor their approach to ensure that your research paper reflects your vision and academic goals.
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• Short Deadlines : We understand that time is often a critical factor. We offer short turnaround times, allowing you to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of your research paper. With our dedicated team, we can handle urgent requests efficiently.
• Timely Delivery : We prioritize timely delivery to ensure that you receive your research paper well before your deadline. We understand the importance of submitting your work on time and offer our commitment to punctuality.
• 24/7 Support : Our customer support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any inquiries or concerns you may have. We are here to provide prompt and helpful assistance at any stage of the writing process.
• Absolute Privacy : We value your privacy and confidentiality. We have strict measures in place to protect your personal information and ensure that your identity remains anonymous throughout the process.
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Health Care Administration and Management

• Find Articles/Databases
• Reference Resources
• Evidence Summaries & Clinical Guidelines
• Health Data & Statistics
• Grey Literature & Reports
• Framing Research Questions
• Selecting Databases
• Crafting a Search
• Narrowing / Filtering a Search
• Expanding a Search
• Cited Reference Searching
• Saving Searches
• Citing/Managing References
• What are Literature Reviews?
• Conducting & Reporting Systematic Reviews
• Finding Systematic Reviews
• Tutorials & Tools for Literature Reviews
• Critical Appraisal Resources
• Finding Full Text

Select Journals for Health Care Management

• Health Affairs This peer-reviewed journal publishes health policy thought and research and serves as a forum to promote analysis and discussion on improving health and health care, and to address such issues as cost, quality, and access.
• Health Care Management Review This journal disseminates state-of-the-art knowledge about management, leadership, and administration of health care systems, organizations, and agencies.
• Health Services Research HSR is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that provides researchers and public and private policymakers with the latest research findings, methods, and concepts related to the financing, organization, delivery, evaluation, and outcomes of health services.
• Journal of Healthcare Management The official, peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), JMH provides healthcare leaders with the information they need to manage complex healthcare issues and to make effective strategic decisions.
• Medical Care Research and Review This peer-reviewed journal publishes original research and critical reviews of literature on organizational structure, economics, and the financing of health and medical care systems.

For additional journals relevant to this field, also see Supplemental Tables 5 and 6 in Burtis, Howell & Taylor (2021) .  

Selecting a Database

The scope of health administration and management is highly interdisciplinary, with potentially relevant sources being found in the literature of health care, but also in the literature of business administration, the social sciences, and public administration 1 .  

While a comprehensive search would include a combination of specialized databases within these fields, literature mapping research has shown that health care management topics are well-covered by searching general purpose multidisciplinary and health databases together 2 .  

• Taylor, M. K., Gebremichael, M. D., & Wagner, C. E. (2007). Mapping the literature of health care management . Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 95 (2), e58–e65. https://doi.org/10.3163/1588-9439.95.2.E58
• Burtis, A. T., Howell, S. M., & Taylor, M. K. (2021). Mapping the literature of health care management: an update . Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 109 (3), 464–471. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2021.1121

Health Databases

• Medline via PubMed This link opens in a new window PubMed comprises over 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books, including the literature of health administration.
• Health Services Research (HSR) PubMed Queries A search interface to find PubMed citations relating to health care quality or to health care costs, Use keywords or subjects to describe the topic of interest, and then select a Category (e.g.: Appropriateness; Process assessment; Outcomes assessment; Costs; Economics; Qualitative research; Quality improvement). The search will run in PubMed, with a category hedge applied.
• CINAHL Complete This link opens in a new window CINAHL indexes over 3,800 journals from the fields of nursing and allied health, with indexing for selected journals back to 1937. Topics covered are related to nursing, physical therapy, health education, social service/healthcare, occupational therapy, and related disciplines. CINAHL also provides access to healthcare books, nursing dissertations, selected conference proceedings, standards of professional practice, educational software and audiovisual materials in nursing. Dates of coverage: 1937 to present.

Multidisciplinary Databases

• Web of Science Core Collection This link opens in a new window Web of Science Core Collection is a multidisciplinary citation index that includes scholarly articles, conference proceedings, and books in the biomedical, psychosocial, and arts and humanities. The collections contain Science Citation, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index , Conference Proceedings Citation Index, Book Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index and Current Chemical Reactions index.
• Scopus This link opens in a new window Scopus is a multidisciplinary index of peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
• ProQuest Central This link opens in a new window The largest multidisciplinary database with over 11,000 titles, scholarly sources as well as newspapers and popular periodicals. Includes ABI Inform Complete, (ABI/INFORM Global, ABI/INFORM Trade and Industry, and ABI/INFORM Dateline)

Suggested Search Terms

Some databases (e.g., PubMed and CINAHL) have robust subject thesauri that is used to index articles, while others (e.g., Web of Science and Scopus) do not use a subject thesaurus for indexing, and so you will rely entirely on keyword or topic searching.  

In PubMed, consider using these subject (MeSH) terms:

• Delivery of Health Care
• Health Care Reform
• Health Policy
• Health Services Administration
• Insurance, Health
• Managed Care Programs
• Health Care Costs
• Public Health Administration
• Quality Assurance, Health Care
• Quality of Health Care

In CINAHL, try these subject headings:

• Health Care Delivery
• Quality Management, Organizational
• Quality Assurance

Additional Sources for Locating Articles & Reports

Public administration & health policy.

• PAIS International This link opens in a new window PAIS International contains journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, publications of international agencies for public affairs, public and social policies, and international relations.
• Policy File This link opens in a new window Policy FIle offers access to U.S. foreign and domestic policy papers and gray literature, with abstracts and links to timely reports, papers, and documents from think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes, advocacy groups, agencies, and other entities.
• Policy Commons This link opens in a new window Policy Commons is a large database for public policy, with millions of reports, working papers, policy briefs, data sources, and media drawn from a directory of more than 20,000 IGOs, NGOs, think tanks, and research centers. Community tools allow users to upload, share, and discuss their discoveries. Includes module "World Cities" and contents form the Index to Current Urban Documents.
• Health Policy Reference Center This link opens in a new window Health Policy Reference Center contains full-text coverage of information relevant to many areas integral to health policy including, but not limited to: Health Care Access & Delivery, Health Care Administration, Health Care Financing & Economics, Health Care Planning, Health Care Quality, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Health Law, Health Services Research, Long Term Care, Maternal & Child Health, Medical & Health Care Ethics, Public Health, and Social Medicine.
• Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) This link opens in a new window Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) is a source for theory and research in international affairs. It includes scholarship, working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, proceedings from conferences, books, journals, case studies for teaching, and policy briefs.

Further Research Guides

For more policy-focused resources and search advice, visit NYU Libraries' Public Policy and Administration Research Guide .

Also see the following research guides from other libraries related to the health policy and health law:

• Michigan State University: Health Care Policy A brief guide to useful sources of information on the complexities of health care policy.
• Pace University: Health Law A gateway to online resources, including federal, state, and international health law, health law topics, legal and medical journals and newsletters, legal and medical agencies and organizations, and relevant discussion groups.

Business & Economics

• ABI/INFORM This link opens in a new window ABI/INFORM features full-text journals, dissertations, working papers, key business, and economics periodicals. Researchers can locate country- and industry-focused reports, and its international focus provides a picture of companies and business trends around the world.
• Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window Business Source Complete is a full text database of articles from popular, scholarly, and trade publications. Subjects covered include management, economics, finance, accounting, international business. Dates of coverage: 1886 to present.

For more business-focused databases and search advice, visit NYU Libraries' Virtual Business Library (VBL)

Also see the following guides from other libraries related to the business aspects of health management:

• MIT Libraries: Health Care Management This guide covers resources for researching topics related to health care management including major stakeholders and issues of access, cost, delivery, utilization, quality, and outcomes.
• Michigan State University: Healthcare Management The MSU Business Library's guide for researching healthcare management.

Social Sciences & Public Health

• AgeLine This link opens in a new window AgeLine is a citation source focused on the population aged 50+ and issues of aging. It indexes journals, books, book chapters, reports, dissertations, consumer guides, and educational videos, including content from the health sciences, psychology, sociology, social work, economics, and public policy.
• Global Health This link opens in a new window Global Health indexes publications from around the world. Provides coverage of the following aspects of human health and disease: communicable diseases, tropical diseases, parasitic diseases, human nutrition, community and public health, medicinal and poisonous plants. Language of publication listed in brackets after the title. Dates of coverage: 1910 to present. More information less... 3 concurrent users; please log off after each session.
• Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window Sociological Abstracts represents the core database for sociological scholarship, covering literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. It indexes scholarly journals, dissertations and theses, books, and conference papers and proceedings, and is international in scope.
• SocINDEX with Full Text This link opens in a new window SocINDEX covers the sociology literature, encompassing all sub-disciplines and closely related areas of study. It indexes scholarly journals, books, monographs, and conference papers.
• PsycNET (with PsycINFO) This link opens in a new window APA PsycNET is an integrated collection of databases from the American Psychological Association (APA), including the following: PsycINFO, PsycBOOKS, PsycTESTS, PsycTHERAPY, PsycARTICLES, and PsycEXTRA. PsycINFO, the most popular database in PsycNET, is a bibliographic index covering core literature in the psychological and behavioral sciences and their related disciplines. More information less... To search only a specific database (e.g., PsycINFO) within the PsycNET interface, use the "Select Databases" features at the top of the PsycNET landing page and check (or uncheck) the database(s) that apply.

Newspapers & Popular Periodicals

• ProQuest Central This link opens in a new window ProQuest Central is a large, multidisciplinary database with over 11,000 titles, with over 8,000 titles in full-text. It serves as the central resource for researchers at all levels in all markets. Over 160 subjects areas are covered extensively in this product including business and economics, health and medical, news and world affairs, technology, social sciences and more.
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Healthcare Administration and Management

• Getting Started
• Choose a Topic
• OneSearch for Healthcare Administration Information
• Searching Effectively
• Healthcare Management Articles and Websites
• Research Process Tutorial and Flowchart This link opens in a new window
• Writing Center - Writing Skills This link opens in a new window
• APA Formatting and Style (7th ed.) for Student Papers This link opens in a new window
• Grammarly - your writing assistant
• Brainfuse Online Tutoring
• Using Information Responsibly: Avoiding Plagiarism This link opens in a new window
• Interlibrary Loan This link opens in a new window

Need an Idea?

A great idea can come from many places. here are some suggested places to start:, class discussions, assigned readings, topics in the news, browse journals in the field, personal interests, choosing a good topic resources, develop your topic.

• "Choosing a Topic" Resources
• "Explore A Topic" Resources
• Refine Your Topic

• Points of View Reference Source This link opens in a new window Contains many core topics, each with an overview (objective background / description), point (argument), and counterpoint (opposing argument).
• Britannica's ProCon.org Britannica provides pros and cons on debatable issues, with well-researched information on those issues.

Before you develop your research topic or question, you'll need to do some background research first.

Some good places to find background information:

• Your textbook or class readings
• Encyclopedias and reference books
• Credible websites
• Library databases

Try the library databases below to find and explore a topic. When you're ready, move on to refining your topic.

Find Background Information

• Gale EBooks This link opens in a new window Gale EBooks is a database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.
• Refining Your Topic Learn strategies for selecting and refining your topic by narrowing or broadening it, and how to control the number of results by adding or removing search terms.

• Is there a specific subset of the topic you can focus on?
• Is there a cause and effect relationship you can explore?
• Is there an unanswered question on the subject?
• Can you focus on a specific time period or group of people?

Describe and develop your topic in some detail. Try filling in the blanks in the following sentence, as much as you can:

I want to research  ____ (what/who) ____

and  ____ (what/who) ____

in  ____ (where) ____

during  ____ (when) ____

because  ____ (why) ____.

health administration

health policy

hospital administration

delivery of health care

medical economics

quality assurance, health care

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• Next: OneSearch for Healthcare Administration Information >>
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Healthcare management is a field of study that elaborates on the administrative aspects of healthcare facilities. The maintenance of public health facilities is one of the fundamental duties of the government. Various students and researchers are keen to explore new healthcare management dissertation topics so they can play a vital role in improving healthcare services.

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Choosing good healthcare management dissertation topics is crucial. They form the basis for impactful research in the healthcare sector. A well-chosen topic shapes the trajectory of academic inquiry. Researching diabetes allows for focused investigation into a prevalent health concern while exploring infectious disease or global health research topics opens avenues for valuable insights in healthcare management.

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Healthcare Management Research Paper Topics & Ideas 2023

Published 16 October, 2023

Management students have to be efficient in every field and that is why they have given healthcare management research paper topics assignments as well. A free list of research topics on healthcare management is available here from the professionals of My Research Topics. The list can be used by the undergraduates in order to get the best suggestions for topic selection for research  or their essays on healthcare management. You can write argumentative, persuasive essays, reflective essays, cause and effect essays, narrative essays, a critical essay on management on these topics given here without any glitch. So make sure that you take the complete benefit from the research-based new and fresh topics on healthcare management given here. It will become a medium to increase the level of perfection for your research paper and essay.

Healthcare Management Topics On The Security Of Patients

• What is the role of the healthcare management team to maintain the security of patients?
• How to manage the patients with criminal backgrounds in your hospital being a healthcare manager?
• Importance of maintaining and managing secret records of your patient’s history and not disclosing it to anyone.
• Challenges confronted by the healthcare management team to manage the privacy of patients.
• How a hospital can be ensured free of criminal occupancy by the management?

Best Healthcare Management Research Paper Topics On Financial Management

• Difficulty maintaining politeness and collect the charges from rude and stubborn patients for a financial manager of the healthcare sector.
• How to deal with the financial crises in a hospital by managing the proper supply of drugs and other sorts of medicines to patients?
• How to utilize the profit money in the development of the hospital being a financial manager of the hospital?
• Role of financial management software and its knowledge in the healthcare department for the management.
• Is it good to leave payment from the poor patient to enhance the market reputation of the hospital?

Healthcare management research paper topics ideas on Staff management

• How to manage the problem of low staff in your hospital to serve all the patients equally?
• Should every member of staff be asked to come on weekends and not given any left to run a hospital smoothly?
• Why it is important to preserve the rights of staff members in the healthcare sector to manage the daily activities of the hospital in the best way?
• What serious challenges can be thrown towards the management team in case of poor staff?
• How to motivate your staff of the hospital to bring out the maximum output from their work for the hospital?
• Things to keep in mind for maintaining a good relationship between the members of your staff.

Have a look: Free Research Paper Topics in Healthcare Administration

Healthcare management research paper topics suggestion on infrastructure

• Why infrastructure management of healthcare is very crucial and how to develop it?
• How to develop and maintain the infrastructure of the hospital owing to the fact that you are part of the management team of that hospital.
• Utilization of the hospital fund in the development of infrastructure. Is it a good idea or not?
• What type of infrastructure facilities are common and crucial to be managed in every hospital to give comfort to patients?
• How to save your healthcare department in which you are serving as a management part from getting into any sort of disgrace related to the infrastructure?
• What type of roles a management team plays in taking the decision related to the infrastructure of the hospital?

Those who are unable to write their healthcare management research paper topics &  assignments can take affordable help from My Research Topics . Research paper help on management is given by experienced writers to ensure the quality of the paper. In case you are asked to write an essay on healthcare management then essay writing services can also be taken easily at any time. Different types of research papers are written for college and university graduates at a genuine price by talented and experienced helpers. So ask professional research paper writers and essay helpers to write an argumentative essay, critical essay, compare and contrast essay on healthcare management for you. Also, you can place your order online for a research paper of all sorts.

Read Also: Health Care Policy Research Paper Ideas

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83 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best healthcare administration topic ideas & essay examples, ✍️ healthcare administration essay topics for college, 📌 good essay topics on healthcare administration, 💡 simple & easy healthcare administration titles.

• Ethical Dilemma in Healthcare Administration Ethical concerns root for the distinction and separation of clinical ethics and business ethics in order to avoid complications of the responsibilities in the health care system.
• Mental Health Administration With the increased number of cases, the government opted to have a policy that would see the proper administration of the condition; this lead to the formation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services […] We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Administration The key stakeholders in addressing healthcare inefficiencies in the administrative processes include the government, hospital administrators and the direct-patient contact staff.
• Job Demands in Canadian Health Services Office Administration Currently, relevant job demands in the modern field of Canadian office administration of health services pose considerable challenges for newcomers to the industry.
• Gender and Leadership in Healthcare Administration The authors were studying the challenges that the female gender face in healthcare leadership. The authors concluded that gender inequality in management could not be affected by the type and size of the hospital.
• Administration Errors in a Mental Health Hospital The selection of a representative group from the population of interest is among the prerequisites for the production of reliable and generalizable results.
• Silica Exposure and Occupational Safety and Health Administration In this research, the main focus is to investigate whether the exposure rate on a worker at the Iron Foundry is above the set standard by the OSHA.
• Healthcare Administration: The Role of Information Technologies Sometimes people can use the OR and AND tools to calculate the probability. In addition to probability, Excel allows people to calculate measures of the central tendency.
• The Job of Health Care Administration or Executive Assistance In terms of the contributions of the course to the development of the professional experience for the position, such areas as decision-making and problem-solving were especially relevant.
• Career Development in Healthcare Administration The institution provides regular training to the members and updates the current trends that are witnessed in the healthcare sector. Second, The American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration is a website that helps in […]
• ACOs in Healthcare Administration As part of the Medicare and Medicaid program, the main goal of coordinated care is to optimize services by reducing duplication of services and improving care timeliness.
• Emergency Action Plan: Occupational Safety and Health Administration Company Name: Company Name. Company Contact: Name: Your Name Title: Position Telephone/Cell: Email: In the event of an emergency, employees are alerted by:
• Amazon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration The story of one of the Amazon workers presents the company as a firm that does not value ethics in its strategic scheme. It is a matter of ethics to prioritize the employee’s well-being and […]
• Healthcare Administration: The Legal Aspects The essence of this study is to evaluate and assert the usefulness and the advantage of using case studies in teaching legal aspects in healthcare administration.
• Health Administration: Ethical and Legal Perspectives The HIPAA’s primary role was established in order to give people the authority to share their personal medical information, and again gain more accessibility of information about their health status healthcare.
• Legal Aspects of the US Health Care Administration Limiting or revoking the privileges of a medical practitioner is the extreme disciplinary step taken by the medical staff leaders of hospitals in USA.
• Aspects of Health Care Administration In most cases, the role of the administrator in a medical facility is to oversee and ensure the smooth sailing of the medical institution.
• U. S Public Health Administration The public health budget process is an important tool for governments in mobilizing resources that are needed for health, in the implementation of health-based policies and in the provision of quality health services that is […]
• US Public Health Administration While aspects of identification and curing of various kinds of diseases are surely within the agenda of public health, this is not its main task, which, in its broadest scope would embrace, preventive and protective […]
• US Public Health Public Health Administration If a catastrophic disaster occurs, public health staff are needed in terms of quantity and quality therefore, the US government has come up with initiatives to deal with the above.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center Substance abuse and mental health services administration has a well-established principle of collaborating with public and private partners so as to provide the most effective services to the needy people within the society.
• Applications for Health Care Administration Finally, there is a need to build a simple but robust network infrastructure within the hospital that will not only allow the above three systems to operate collectively, but also prepare the hospital for future […]
• Finding a Job in the Healthcare Administration Field Following the recommendations, looking for new openings, and continuously working on skills and knowledge improvement can lead one to a good position in healthcare administration.
• Veterans Health Administration Integrative Care Model The purpose of the following study is to provide a thorough research on the influence of the practices conducted on mental health and to examine the overall effectiveness of the integrative care system in delivering […]
• Healthcare Organization’s Strategic Administration To cater to the needs of the population and react to the external and internal fluctuations of the environment, the company has to enhance the quality of the provided services and create a favorable environment […]
• Health and Human Services Administration Master’s Program In this section, I will discuss some of the reasons why I think I am best-placed in my career and the areas I need to sharpen my metrics.
• Health Administration Instructor’s Teaching Philosophy The US labor statistics show that health care is one of the most rapidly developing fields that accounts for the fact that it provides a huge variety of opportunities and options to build a career.
• Business Administration in the Healthcare Field Precise and states the objectives of the hospital, the market segment that it intends to serve, and how it intends to serve it.
• Health Administration Course and Lessons Learnt In this paper, I will present my reflections on the module assignments to identify the areas that I excelled in and those that I need to improve on.
• “Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration” by George Pozgar In the context of healthcare, information management can be described as the maintenance of records containing the confidential data of patients and medical workers.
• Veteran Health Administration Program The hospital seems to offer quality care to patients, and one of the studies done showed that patients with diabetes got more care than in other health care systems.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration In population, the mental state of people that arises from the need of space in excess of the available supply is referred to as crowding.
• Legal Aspects of US Healthcare System Administration Professional conduct within a health care setting is grounded in values that reflect the nature and the dynamics of the relationships between a provider and a patient.
• Veterans Health Administration in Northern California The organization mentors and monitors its employees using the best Performance Management System. The healthcare facility has hired the right supervisors and managers to monitor the system.
• Veteran Health Administration: Electronic Systems It is from such sessions that the staff will get a chance to learn from individuals who have prior significant experiences as well as knowledge in their areas of specialization.
• Veterans Health Administration System Development Lifecycle Evidence in support of this is identified in the GAO report which highlights the fact that despite spending large sums on money and time on the VA project implementation is yet to be done on […]
• Healthcare Administration: Foreign Trade Commission The role of FTC is to ensure effective law enforcement on consumer interests by provision and sharing of its expertise with the federal state, international agencies and the legislative body in the US.
• Effects of Globalization in Health Care Administration In this regard, it fronts considerable challenges to the healthcare sector in the realms of administration and service provision. It is crucial to understand the provisions of globalization and how they affect the healthcare administration.
• Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration This essay looks at the case of Terri Schiavo and the ethical issues that arose from it, the definitions used to judge cases similar to it from a bioethics perspective and it will attempt to […]
• Ethics in Health Administration The first group focuses on the issues that revolve around making of ethical decisions as well as the universal issues that have a bearing on ethics.
• Ethics in Health Administration: Four Principles of Autonomy For this reason, the role of the healthcare administrator will be to ensure that all the physicians in the organizations respect the choices made by the patients regarding treatment and other important factors pertaining the […]
• Business Administration in Healthcare Field The difference in the human perception of 3D and 2D images that calls for 3D image processing is the major focus of development in the field of informatics.
• The Evolution of Healthcare Administration
• The New Healthcare Administration: How They Drive Diversity?
• General Healthcare Administration Positions
• Global Human Resource Management in the Healthcare Administration
• Career Outlook of Health Administrators
• The Educational Requirements for Healthcare Administration
• International Finance for Healthcare Administration in the United States
• Analysis of the Professional Development Plan Healthcare Administration
• Ethical Diligence in Healthcare Administration
• Work Environment of Health Administrators
• Plans and Features of Healthcare Administration in the United State
• Useful Professional Associations in Healthcare Administration
• The Role of Stakeholders and Community Assessment in Health Nursing Collaboration between community health nurses and community stakeholders as well as community resource assessment can help nurses promote population health.
• Healthcare Management vs. Administration: Key Differences
• The Organizational Behavior of Healthcare Administration
• Changing From Legal Practice to Healthcare Administration
• Healthcare Administration for Patient Safety and Engagement
• System Planning and Control: Health Administration
• Dismissal of Healthcare Administration Employees
• How to Manage the Healthcare Administration in Real Life?
• Pros and Cons of the New Master’s Program in Healthcare Administration
• Queueing System Analysis of Healthcare Administration
• Marketing Strategies and Recommendations for Healthcare Administration
• Factors Affecting the Activities of Healthcare Administration
• Skills That Can Help Improve Work in Healthcare Administration
• The Current Corporate and Global Strategies of Healthcare Administration
• Past and Present in Healthcare Administration
• Law, Ethics, and Policy in Healthcare Administration
• Organizational Behavior and Culture Change at Healthcare Administration
• Sources of Income in the Healthcare Administration: How They Can Affect the Work of Employees
• Healthcare Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
• Debunking Misconceptions About Healthcare Administration Roles
• The Future of Healthcare Administration
• The Realities of Healthcare Management: What Can Go Unnoticed?
• Healthcare Administration: A Combination of Theory and Practice
• What Is the Role of Information Technology in the Healthcare Administration?
• Stress and the Hospital Administrator: Sources and Solutions
• Technological Advancements in Healthcare Administration
• View of Hospital Administration as a Profession
• Success Factors and Leadership Strategies Healthcare Administration
• The Fundamentals of Healthcare Administration: Navigating Challenges and Coordinating Care
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Education Related Topics

Healthcare Management Research Paper Topics

Healthcare Management Research Paper Topics : Introduction: Healthcare management plays a vital role in the effective and efficient delivery of healthcare services. It involves overseeing the organization, planning, and coordination of resources and personnel to ensure the provision of high-quality patient care. Research in healthcare management contributes to improving healthcare systems, optimizing resource allocation, and enhancing patient outcomes. If you are interested in exploring research topics in healthcare management, here are some thought-provoking areas to consider:

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety:

• The role of quality improvement initiatives in reducing medical errors and adverse events.
• Exploring patient-centered care models and their impact on patient satisfaction and outcomes.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare accreditation programs in promoting quality and safety.
• The use of technology and data analytics to enhance patient safety and prevent healthcare-associated infections.
• Implementing evidence-based practice guidelines to improve healthcare quality and reduce variations in care.

Find: Healthcare Debate Topics

Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Behavior

• Transformational leadership in healthcare: its influence on staff engagement and organizational performance.
• Exploring the impact of organizational culture on quality improvement initiatives and patient outcomes.
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective healthcare leadership and team collaboration.
• Examining the influence of leadership styles on employee motivation and job satisfaction in healthcare settings.
• Strategies for fostering innovation and change management in healthcare organizations.

Find: Healthcare Finance Research Topics

Healthcare Policy and Economics:

• Analyzing the impact of healthcare reforms on access to care, cost, and quality of services.
• Examining the role of health insurance systems in promoting equitable healthcare access and financial protection.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of value-based payment models in incentivizing high-quality, cost-effective care.
• Exploring the economic implications of chronic disease management and prevention strategies.
• Assessing the impact of healthcare disparities on population health outcomes and healthcare spending.

Find: Public Health Research Topics

Healthcare Information Systems and Technology:

• Adoption and implementation of electronic health records (EHR) and their impact on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
• Exploring the use of telehealth and virtual care technologies in improving access to healthcare services.
• Data privacy and security in healthcare: challenges and strategies for protecting patient information.
• The role of health informatics in supporting population health management and public health initiatives.
• Assessing the impact of health information exchange (HIE) on care coordination and continuity.

Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

• Innovations in healthcare delivery models: examining the effectiveness of accountable care organizations (ACOs) and medical homes.
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing healthcare challenges in underserved communities.
• Exploring the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare decision-making and diagnostics.
• Assessing the impact of mobile health (mHealth) applications in patient self-management and engagement.
• Strategies for fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare organizations.

These research paper topics cover a wide range of areas within healthcare management, from quality improvement and patient safety to healthcare policy, technology, and innovation. Choose a topic that aligns with your interests and academic goals, and remember to conduct thorough research, consult with your advisor or mentor, and use reliable sources to support your findings.

Steve George is Blogger, a marketer and content writer. He has B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington. Read more about Mzuri Mag .

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100+ Management Topics For Your Research Papers

As a student, you are probably very interested to learn about more ways to improve your grades. Management students, like all other students, should focus on learning. It is the best way to improve your grades, after all. However, there is another simple way you can improve the grades you get on your academic papers: finding exceptional management topics. Let’s talk about topics and show you why they are so important for students of all ages.

Great Management Topics = Top Grades

Finding great project management research topics usually means getting a top grade on the essay. Did you notice that some of your classmates are getting high grades without even trying too much? How do they do it? The simple answer is that they manage to impress the professor. It’s not easy, but it can be done. And you can do it too. For example, if you manage to find some business management research topics that nobody in your class thought about, you are almost guaranteed a top grade.

Your topic will pique the interest of your professor and will keep him or her reading. This means you will instantly get bonus points. It also shows to your professor that you’ve really strived to come up with an interesting topic. Of course, a unique topic also means you’ll submit an entirely original essay.

Where Can You Find the Best Management Topics?

Whether we’re talking about research topics in healthcare management or other management topics, you need to know where to find the best topics. Yes, you could try the Internet. However, keep in mind that most of your peers are using the same source to get topics. A good approach would be to ask industry experts for some interesting business management research paper topics. For example, you can ask around in forums and on blogs. Also, we advise you to check our great list of business topics .

Another great way to get some ideas is to read as many articles on management topics as possible. You’ll find plenty of examples and you can tweak them as much as you like. You’ll probably end up with a long list of unique topics.

However, the best and easiest way to get the best topics is to get in touch with an expert academic writer. A professional writer can come up with a list of research topics in management for you in no time. After all, this is what these people do. They have extensive experience writing academic papers for their clients. This being said, all you have to do is get in touch with an academic writing company and ask them for a list of management topics for a research paper.

Management Training Topics

Looking for amazing management training topics? Why don’t you pick one of the following examples:

• The best employee management tactics every company should employ in 2022.
• The various leadership styles around the world.
• How does a company train its HR department adequately?
• Is employee training necessary for coronavirus eradication?
• How do employees adapt to change without proper training?
• Does training influence employees’ loyalty?
• The importance of evaluating the performance of a team.
• Evolving technologies require thorough training programs.

Project Management Topics

Finding great project management topics can be a daunting task. To help you out, our expert writers have put together this list:

• Effective ways to manage international teams of remote workers.
• Effective project management methods that will work best in 2022.
• Define the Distance Education Management System.
• The Starbucks project management team: a case study.
• Global projects are the new form of organization.
• Outsourcing management problems in 2022.
• The negative side of outsourcing to India.
• The negative effects of stress and excessive work in the modern world.

Healthcare Management Research Paper Topics

Are you in need of excellent healthcare management research paper topics? Here are some of the best examples we can think of:

• Top methods to increase the effects of preventative care.
• Complying with the new privacy laws as a public hospital.
• How do hospitals acquire talent?
• Best way to retain talent in the healthcare industry.
• What are hospital ratings and how do their effect these institutions?
• Patient safety should be a manager’s primary concern.
• Can manpower be used to gauge a hospital’s performance?
• Case Study: The supply chain of drugs and medicine in a large hospital.

Risk Management Topics

When it comes to risk management topics, we doubt you will find topics more interesting than the following:

• Methods of accounting in case of natural disasters.
• How to protect assets as part of an integrated financial risk management strategy.
• Grouping clients into risk pools: best practices.
• What are the factors that influence risk management in the healthcare industry?
• Big data and its effects on risk management in the UK.
• The effects of advancing technology on risk management.
• 3 ways to tackle the supply chain risk in 2022.

Management Meetings Topics

What do you talk about during a management meeting? Let’s find out! Here are some of the most interesting management meetings topics:

• What do managers like to discuss during meetings?
• Supply chain and operations management can be integrated.
• Methods to discuss a change of pace in the company.
• Analyzing the marketing activities and their impact.
• The main steps of product development.

Sport Management Research Topics

Our sport management research topics are unique and original. You can use any of the following topics for free right now:

• The influence of music during training.
• Managing water intake during weightlifting exercises.
• Does mathematic coaching help with sports performance?
• Risk management in a sports organization.
• The legal risks sports organizations face in the UK.
• Discussing safety issues in football.
• The different leadership methods in sports management.

Operations Management Topics

It can be very difficult to find original operations management topics, we know. This is why we are here to help. Take a look at these new topics:

• Should you manufacture in-house or outsource?
• The difference between the main operations management strategies.
• What is the scope of operations management in the financial sector in the United States?
• The best research methods for operations management.
• Methods for bottleneck elimination.
• What is Lean manufacturing and what does it imply?
• The impact of the IT industry on operations management.

Management Topics for Presentation

Are you looking for management topics for the presentation? Although not the easiest thing to do, our expert managed to create some unique topics for you:

• The recruitment process in the Al Etihad company.
• The unique problems of organizing a sports organization.
• How do hospitals plan for biological attacks?
• Are business ethics the same for employees and managers?
• Managing lawsuits as a pharmaceutical company.
• Managing waste disposal as a fertilizer company in the UK.
• How does the COVID-19 virus affect the management of organizations?
• Using social media for company management purposes.

Research Topics in Human Resource Management

When you need to research topics in human resource management, you need our list. Here are some topics that we think you will find very interesting:

• Discussing equal employment opportunities in the UK.
• What is strategic HR planning?
• How is talent aligned to business?
• What are soft skills and hard skills?
• The many benefits of salary bonuses.
• Eliminating sexual harassment at the workplace.
• Eliminating drug use at the workplace.

Stress Management Topics

Do you need to write an amazing essay about stress management? In this case, you need to write on one of our stress management topics:

• Progressive muscle relaxation therapy.
• The best breathing exercises for stress.
• Keep a positive attitude to reduce stress.
• The effects of physical exercise on stress levels.
• Does discrimination cause stress?
• The link between stress and depression.
• Top 4 methods to manage stress effectively.

Controversial Topics in Business Management

Writing about controversial topics in business management will surely catch the eye of your professor. Here are some examples:

• What is sexual harassment at work?
• Let’s discuss the paid parental leave policy.
• The importance of health insurance coverage in the US.
• The worst cases of public relations blunders in the UK.
• Is workplace violence real?
• What causes drug use at the workplace in the US?
• Is bureaucracy useful in 2022?

Anger Management Group Topics

Don’t waste your time looking for anger management group topics and just write a paper on one of the original topics:

• Here is why you should think before you speak.
• Does exercise relieve anger?
• The best strategies for anger management in 2022.
• Playing video games can help you manage your anger.
• Is anger your friend?
• The best relaxing exercises for anger management.
• Are our anger management groups working?

Financial Management Topics

It’s difficult to find original financial management topics, but we managed to put together some unique topics for you:

• The difficulties of financial management in emerging countries.
• Work from home and the financial aspect of teleworking.
• How does a remote financial department work?
• Managing the finances of an SME during its expansion phase.
• Taking loans or self-funding your operations?
• A report on the financial workings of Netflix.
• How does Tesla get money without making a profit?
• Ford finances in Europe: a case study.

Easy Management Topics

Don’t want to spend too much time on the essay? Here are some easy management topics for you:

• Using computers in the learning process is not as easy as you think.
• Do you study abroad just to have an excuse to travel more?
• What are the various drinking styles when discussing college students?
• The sustainable organizations of the twenty-first century.
• Analyzing supply chain management from an environmental perspective.
• The main factors that affect the success of women managers.
• Methods of strategic planning in new SMEs.

Hot Topics in Pain Management

Here are the hot topics in pain management that you should be writing an essay on right now:

• The role of nurses in pain management in the United States.
• Defining modern pain science.
• Low back pain is more complex than you think.
• How do pain management drugs work?
• Should painkillers be prescribed to children?
• How addictive are painkillers?

It doesn’t matter that you need human resource management topics or management meeting topics. What matters the most is to learn how to pick the right topic. You can read dozens of articles on how to pick the right topic and waste hours learning the basics. Or you can just pick one of the topics our thesis writers thought of. It’s 100% free!

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• Open access
• Published: 16 April 2024

Using a priority setting exercise to identify priorities for guidelines on newborn and child health in South Africa, Malawi, and Nigeria

• Solange Durão   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7028-2638 1 ,
• Emmanuel Effa 2 ,
• Nyanyiwe Mbeye 3 ,
• Mashudu Mthethwa 2 ,
• Michael McCaul 4 ,
• Celeste Naude 4 ,
• Amanda Brand 4 ,
• Ntombifuthi Blose 1 ,
• Denny Mabetha 1 ,
• Moriam Chibuzor 2 ,
• Dachi Arikpo 2 ,
• Roselyn Chipojola 3 ,
• Gertrude Kunje 3 ,
• Per Olav Vandvik 5 , 6 ,
• Ekpereonne Esu 2 ,
• Simon Lewin 7 &
• Tamara Kredo 2 , 4  

Health Research Policy and Systems volume  22 , Article number:  48 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest under-five mortality rate globally. Child healthcare decisions should be based on rigorously developed evidence-informed guidelines. The Global Evidence, Local Adaptation (GELA) project is enhancing capacity to use global research to develop locally relevant guidelines for newborn and child health in South Africa (SA), Malawi, and Nigeria. The first step in this process was to identify national priorities for newborn and child health guideline development, and this paper describes our approach.

We followed a good practice method for priority setting, including stakeholder engagement, online priority setting surveys and consensus meetings, conducted separately in South Africa, Malawi and Nigeria. We established national Steering Groups (SG), comprising 10–13 members representing government, academia, and other stakeholders, identified through existing contacts and references, who helped prioritise initial topics identified by research teams and oversaw the process. Various stakeholders were consulted via online surveys to rate the importance of topics, with results informing consensus meetings with SGs where final priority topics were agreed.

Based on survey results, nine, 10 and 11 topics were identified in SA, Malawi, and Nigeria respectively, which informed consensus meetings. Through voting and discussion within meetings, and further engagement after the meetings, the top three priority topics were identified in each country. In SA, the topics concerned anemia prevention in infants and young children and post-discharge support for caregivers of preterm and LBW babies. In Malawi, they focused on enteral nutrition in critically ill children, diagnosis of childhood cancers in the community, and caring for neonates. In Nigeria, the topics focused on identifying pre-eclampsia in the community, hand hygiene compliance to prevent infections, and enteral nutrition for LBW and preterm infants.

Conclusions

Through dynamic and iterative stakeholder engagement, we identified three priority topics for guideline development on newborn and child health in SA, Malawi and Nigeria. Topics were specific to contexts, with no overlap, which highlights the importance of contextualised priority setting as well as of the relationships with key decisionmakers who help define the priorities.

Peer Review reports

Globally, more than half of all deaths in children and youth in 2019 were among children under 5 years [ 1 ]. It is estimated that there are 5.2 million deaths among under-fives each year, with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) having the highest mortality rate [ 2 ]. Most countries in SSA are not on track to meet maternal and child health targets set by Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ‘ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing’, specifically the target of 25 or fewer deaths per 1000 live births [ 1 ]. As of December 2021, under-five mortality rates were reported as 113.8, 38.6 and 32.2 deaths per 1000 live births for Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa respectively [ 3 ]. Factors accounting for regional disparities in child mortality rates include poverty, socioeconomic inequities, poor health systems, and poor nutrition, with disease outbreaks adding substantially to the burden [ 4 ].

Addressing these issues requires an evidence-informed approach to ensure that scarce resources are used effectively and efficiently, avoid harm, maximise benefits, and improve healthcare delivery and outcomes [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Evidence-informed practices have been growing in SSA [ 5 ], and include the use of recommendations from clinical practice guidelines that are intended to optimise patient care or public health practice [ 8 ]. Guidelines bridge the gap between research evidence and practice and are recognised as important quality-improvement tools that aim to standardise care, inform funding decisions, and improve access to care, amongst others.

The development of evidence-informed, trustworthy guidelines from scratch—also known as de novo guideline development—is a resource-intensive and time-consuming process [ 9 ]. However, guideline developers can adopt or adapt existing recommendations from guidelines developed in other settings, to make the process more efficient while maintaining transparency and minimising waste and duplication [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) produces high-quality global-level guidelines, which may be adopted and implemented in a member country or, alternatively, adapted for that context. Guidelines can be adopted when there is no need to change the recommendation, the evidence base, or how it is implemented in a local setting while considering factors such as cost, workforce, health systems, management options and access to care [ 10 ]. They can also be adapted when there is a need to modify a guideline(s) or recommendation(s) produced in one cultural and organisational setting for application in a different context [ 10 ]. However, adaptation of such guidelines to national contexts is often not well described [ 14 ]. An evaluation of experiences of guideline adaptation across WHO regions found that adaptation is understood and implemented in a variety of ways across countries [ 15 ].

Furthermore, reporting of guidelines in the African context is usually below global standards, specifically regarding their rigor of development. Kredo and colleagues reviewed Southern African Development Community (SADC) guidelines on five specific diseases published between 2003 and 2010 and besides poor reporting they found that guidelines needed broader stakeholder involvement and greater transparency [ 16 ]. Scoping reviews of newborn and child health guidelines in South Africa, Malawi and Nigeria published between 2017 and 2022 and of pre-hospital clinical guidance in sub-Saharan Africa found that the methods and reporting of the identified guidelines do not adhere to global standards [ 17 , 18 ].

In terms of priority setting processes for guideline development in African settings, little information is available. A scoping review of studies describing prioritization exercises published up to July 2019 did not identify any studies from African countries, with most studies being from Europe [ 19 ]. There is thus room for strengthening and supporting guideline development and adaptation in SSA, including the initial priority setting for those guidelines.

The Global Evidence, Local Adaptation (GELA) project focuses on addressing some of these gaps, including improving guideline development processes in SSA. The project aims to maximise the impact of research on poverty-related diseases by enhancing decision makers’ and researchers' capacity to use global research, including existing high-quality global guidelines, to develop locally relevant guidelines for newborn and child health in three sub-Saharan Africa countries: South Africa (SA), Malawi and Nigeria. The first step of this project was to identify priorities for newborn and child health guideline development in each country, and this paper aims to describe our approach.

Priority setting methods

Priority setting is an important step in guideline development [ 9 ]. It enables the identification of the most important issues through an iterative, inclusive and explicit process [ 7 , 20 ], and ensures efficient resource use by identifying topics for which guidelines are truly needed [ 19 , 21 ].

A variety of methods and approaches for priority setting for research and for guidelines have been used in the literature but there is no existing gold standard method for priority setting [ 19 , 22 ]. Researchers have analysed priority setting exercises and proposed good practice principles that can be followed during such exercises [ 22 , 23 ]. These principles, or elements, of priority setting are linked to the different stages in the process: pre-prioritisation, prioritisation, and post-prioritisation stages, as described in Fig.  1 [ 19 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In the pre-prioritisation stage, they include (i) involving internal and external stakeholders in the decision-making process, (ii) use of an explicit and transparent process, (iii) information management, (iv) consideration of values and context in which the priorities are being set, including those of stakeholders, staff and patients, and (v) planning for implementation, i.e. planning for translation of the priorities into practice. In the prioritization stage they include (i) using relevant criteria to identify priorities and (ii) choosing a method to decide on priorities, which could be consensus-based, such as the 3D Combined Approach Matrix (CAM), or metric-based approaches, such as the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) approach [ 26 ]. In the post-prioritisation phase, they include (i) an evaluation of the priority setting process, and (sii) putting in place mechanisms for reviewing decisions.

Elements of each priority setting stage (adapted from El-Harakeh 2020, Jo 2015, Sibbald 2009, Tong 2019, Viergever 2010)

We followed good practice priority setting method, as described above. Our approach included a pre-prioritisation stage to identify potential priority topics through stakeholder engagement and review of the literature, and a prioritisation stage for consultation and finalisation of the priority topics through online surveys and consensus meetings, using specific criteria (Fig.  2 ). Country teams were responsible for implementing each step in their respective countries and any differences in the process due to practical or other factors within the three countries were captured as part of the documentation of the process.

Overview of priority setting approach overview

Pre-prioritization

Stakeholder identification and engagement.

We engaged with two different pre-specified groups. The first were the members of the Guideline steering group set up in each GELA project country. Up to 13 individuals were identified and invited to participate from the relevant national departments or ministries of health, professional associations, country-level WHO offices, and any other individuals suggested by these bodies in each country. They were identified through existing contacts of the researcher team within national departments of health responsible for guideline development and working within newborn and child health area, with whom they had worked before. These individuals then also made suggestions of other members from other stakeholder groups such as academia, non-governmental organisations, etc., who worked in the field of newborn and child health. The steering group provided initial suggestions of priority topics, made the final decisions regarding which to prioritise, and provided general oversight and technical advice on the in-country implementation of the project.

The second stakeholder group was broader and included individuals or organisations who are involved, can affect or are affected by national decisions or actions related to priority topics in the field of newborn or child health in sub-Saharan Africa [ 27 , 28 ]. These included policymakers, guideline developers, health professionals, civil society representatives, patient advocacy groups as well as WHO Afro representatives, specifically those linked to potential priority topics identified. To identify them, we carried out a stakeholder mapping exercise, which included reviewing secondary data, such as existing guidance and publications and searching the websites of ministries of health, relevant professional associations, universities, NGOs and civil society groups. The national GELA Guideline Steering group members also made suggestions. This process was guided by the stakeholder power-interest matrix where those who have the most influence, and capacity to change practice for impact were prioritised and invited [ 29 ]. Participants were invited, via email, to complete a priority setting survey.

Identifying a long list of topics

We generated an initial long list of potential priority topics through (i) reviewing existing and planned WHO guidelines on newborn and child health, from which potential topics were extracted based on existing recommendations; (ii) consulting with the GELA guideline Steering Group; and (iii) reviewing the disease burden/technical data related to newborn and child health in each country, which was identified through targeted literature searches. WHO guidelines were used as a starting point as these are prepared following rigorous methods and are intended for implementation across the various member countries. Potential topics were organised according to the disease/condition being addressed and the type of intervention (e.g., diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or rehabilitation), and were collated into a spreadsheet or word document.

Prioritization stage

Online survey.

The potential topics identified in the first phase were included in online surveys with stakeholders. We first user-tested the survey among the GELA project team to ensure it was readable and understandable. We then invited all identified stakeholders, via email, to complete the survey developed using REDCap [ 30 ]. In Nigeria, the survey invitation was also circulated via WhatsApp to specific stakeholders. In the invitation emails, we also asked stakeholders to forward the email to any colleagues that may have an interest in the topic.

The landing page of the survey provided information about the study’s purpose, that it was a collaboration with the national department/ministries of health, what we were asking participants to do, and a link for more details about the GELA project, after which participants were required to provide consent before they could complete the survey. The survey asked respondents to rate the listed topics according to five criteria (Box 1 ) using a 6-point Likert scale (6—very critical and 1—not important at all) [ 22 , 31 ]. The criteria used were identified through a survey conducted with the GELA research team in which they rated the top five criteria of 22 criteria for priority setting for guidelines identified by El Harakeh et al. [ 32 ]. An explanation for each criterion was provided in the survey. Originally, we had intended that stakeholders would rate each topic according to each criterion, but we asked instead that they consider the five criteria as a whole when rating a topic. We decided that this approach was less onerous for survey respondents and less likely to lead to poor response rates. Topics rated as being of ‘critical importance’ and ‘very critical importance’ were selected for presentation at the consensus meetings with the Steering Group. The first part of the survey also collected demographic information such as type of stakeholders, what they are primarily practicing as and for how many years, the percentage of time spent in patient care, and the type of institution they are primarily based at.

The surveys remained open for 3–4 weeks. Reminder emails were sent to those who were originally invited to participate, once in SA and Malawi, and weekly in Nigeria. As we could not track emails forwarded to others, due to the anonymity setting of the survey, it was not possible to remind those who had been invited in this manner.

Box 1. Criteria used in the priority setting process

Health burden—whether there is a high impact of the health problem/condition in the country as measured by financial cost, mortality, morbidity, or other indicators (e.g. QALYs, DALYs)

Urgency—whether there is an urgent need to address the issue or practice gap

Absence of guidance—whether there are no up-to-date existing guidelines addressing the specific topic and the topic would fit into existing national guideline development processes and priorities

Impact on health outcomes—whether a recommendation on the topic would have a beneficial impact on health outcomes in the country

Feasibility of intervention implementation—whether a guideline/recommendation addressing the topic would be feasible to implement in the national context (i.e. if this is through recognised guideline development bodies

Steering Group consensus meeting

Each country convened a meeting of their Guideline Steering Group to identify the final top three priority topics for guideline development. The number of topics per country was based on the number of recommendations that could be addressed in each country over the broader project period given the resources available. The moderator was a member of the research team and guided the meetings and discussions. This meeting was online in South Africa, and in-person in Malawi and Nigeria. We adopted a modified Nominal Group Technique [ 33 ] to achieve consensus, including five steps:

Step 1: the research team presented a summary of how the topics for the online survey were identified, which included consultation with the same steering group, as well as the results of the survey, including the summary of the topics that were rated as critically and very critically important, which needed further prioritisation.

Step 2: With the help of the moderator the group discussed each topic to ensure that all members understood them in the same way, and we elicited their thoughts on the ratings from the survey.

Step 3: The steering group members were asked to vote, anonymously, on the topics rated as critical or very critical in the survey using a Zoom poll (South Africa) or manually using post-its (Malawi). In Nigeria, the steering group decided to reach consensus through discussion to ensure full ownership of the resulting topics by every member of the group In South Africa only one round of voting was done as the members felt there was sufficient consensus after that. When voting, members ranked the importance of each topic on a six-point Likert scale against the same five criteria used in the online survey.

Step 4: The moderator summarised the results of the voting using bar charts to visualise the rating frequency distribution [ 34 ]. The variations for ratings observed were discussed among the group, including potential explanations before another round of voting, in cases where this took place.

Step 5: Consensus on the top three topics was reached. It was originally anticipated that at the end of this meeting three priority topics—formulated as questions in Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcomes (PICO) format—would have been identified for the next stages of the GELA project. However, the topics identified were broad, and further scoping of the literature and existing guidelines were needed to unpack and refine them. Several subsequent meetings with the Steering Groups were therefore needed in each country to present this scoping and finalise the three priority PICO questions per country.

Data management and analysis

Data were exported from the REDCap data management software, cleaned, and analysed using R studio [ 35 ] or STATA 12 [ 36 ]. Simple descriptive statistics were used during the analysis. Median and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were used to rank the topics, which were presented graphically and tabulated in descending order from very critically important to not important at all. Frequencies and proportions were used to describe categorical data. Response rates and missing data were noted. The data were considered as missing at random.

Pre-prioritisation

The members identified and invited to join the Steering Group in each country are described in Table  1 .

Stakeholder mapping identified a range of stakeholders for the survey, including 78 in South Africa, 31 in Malawi, and 40 in Nigeria (Table  2 ). In South Africa, there was greater representation from researchers/academics and health professionals; in Malawi from policymakers and researchers/academics; and in Nigeria from policymakers and professional associations, most of whom were academics.

Initial list of topics

In South Africa and Nigeria, the initial lists of topics identified were very long; over 65 topics, across 14 broad topic areas in South Africa, and 51 topics in Nigeria. Through engagement and input from the respective Steering Group members and other experts—via virtual meetings or email—the lists were narrowed down. The survey in South Africa included 14 topics across six conditions, in Nigeria 27 topics across 10 conditions, and in Malawi 30 topics across eight conditions (Table  3 ). Aside from undernutrition, which was a broad topic included in the surveys of all three countries, there was very little overlap in topics across all the countries. Pneumonia/acute respiratory infection and tuberculosis were common to Malawi and Nigeria, and schistosomiasis was common to South Africa and Malawi.

Prioritisation

All the stakeholders described in Table  2 were invited to complete the online survey via email. In Nigeria, WhatsApp messages were also sent to representatives of professional groups (paediatricians, Obstetricians, neonatologists), who then shared on their groups. The surveys were open for approximately three to four weeks at the end of 2022: 10 October to 8 November in South Africa; 7 to 25 November in Malawi; and 10 November to 3 December in Nigeria. Whereas in South Africa and Malawi fewer people accessed the survey compared to the number of people invited (38/78 in SA, 23/61 in Malawi), in Nigeria a greater number of people accessed it (78/57). However, a similar percentage of those that accessed the survey fully completed it (66% in SA, 70% in Malawi, and 68% in Nigeria). Some respondents completed the first part of the survey, i.e. demographic characteristics, but not the section where they were required to rate the importance of the topics. These respondents were not included in the analysis.

Overall, most respondents were health professionals (81%) and had between 5 and 20 years of experience in practice (63%) (Table  4 ). About a third of participants spent more than 75%, or between 50 and 75%, of their time in direct patient care. Most participants were primarily based at a teaching hospital (41%), and at a hospital (17%) or university (16%).

In SA, nine of 14 topics were rated as critically important , five were rated as very important , and no topic was rated as very critically important (Tables 5 , 6 , 7 ). In Malawi, 10/30 topics were rated as very critically important , 14 as critically important , five as very important , and one as important . In Nigeria, 11/27 topics were rated as very critically important , 13 were rated as critically important , one as very important , one as important and one as not important . The topics that were taken through to the discussion with the Steering Groups included all the critically important topics in South Africa, and all the very critically important topics in Malawi and Nigeria. Individual ratings for each topic included in the survey of each country are presented in the Additional file 1 : Fig. S1–S3.

Some survey respondents suggested additional topics. In South Africa 12/25 people suggested an additional 21 topics, six of 16 respondents in Malawi suggested an additional 15 topics, and 30 of 53 respondents in Nigeria suggested an additional 63 topics. In general, there was little overlap in the additional topics suggested and none were taken up as potential priorities across the countries.

Consensus meeting with Steering Groups

The main consensus meetings were held between November and December 2022 across the three countries. These were attended by members of the SG and research teams in each country. Additional individuals who joined the main Steering Group meetings included observers ( n  = 2), the Malawi and Nigeria project leads ( n  = 2) at the South African meeting, the project coordinator (TK) in Malawi, and a representative from the Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics in Nigeria.

After the presentation of the results of the online survey (Step 1) and discussion about the top-rated topics (Step 2) (Table  5 ), facilitated by the moderator, the Steering Group members voted to identify the top three topics (Step 3). In South Africa, one round of voting indicated some consensus; of seven people who voted, three topics were rated as critically or very critically important by most people, and three topics were not rated by any member as critical/very critical . After further discussion on the results of the voting (Step 4), four topics were prioritized (Step 5). Figure  3 describes what took place in each step. In Malawi, although 10 top-rated topics were presented, the Steering Group members derived 10 new topics from topic 1 and 9, and these were the topics voted on. Two rounds of voting were done, after which three topics were identified. In Nigeria, the Steering Group agreed to reach decisions on topics by consensus. After extensive deliberations, considering the prevalence of health problems in neonates and the primary causes of these, they decided on four priority topics to consider.

Flow diagram of the steps in the modified Nominal Group Technique

Across all three countries, the topics selected by the end of the consensus meeting were very broad, i.e., each one encompassed many potential questions and was not yet sufficiently specific for a guideline process (i.e., in the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes—PICO format). Therefore, research teams had to do further work to unpack and refine these. To clarify the PICO questions linked to each topic, the teams compared existing national guidance on prioritised topics with recommendations in relevant WHO guidelines and other global guidance; this allowed identification of gaps in national guidance that the project could address. In Malawi, the team also consulted with experts in the field. This process resulted in seven potential PICO questions in South Africa, six in Malawi, and four in Nigeria. These were presented to the Steering Groups in additional meetings and via email communication, several rounds of which were required before final PICO questions were identified (Table  8 ). The final topics were also discussed with stakeholders responsible for developing and implementing national guidance, to clarify whether they linked to national priorities and whether they could fit within existing guideline development processes and infrastructure. Only topics that fit these conditions were taken through to the next stage of the project, the development of recommendations.

We conducted a priority setting exercise to identify topics and inform new guideline development addressing gaps in newborn and child health in South Africa, Malawi, and Nigeria. In each country, the process included engagements with national Steering Groups comprising representatives of various national-level organisations, multi-stakeholder online surveys, and consensus meetings. At the end of the process three priority PICO questions were identified in each country. In South Africa, the topics concerned anemia prevention in infants and young children through iron supplementation and multiple micronutrient powders, and post-discharge support for caregivers of preterm and LBW babies. In Malawi, they focused on enteral nutrition in critically ill children, diagnosis of childhood cancers in the community, and caring for neonates. In Nigeria, the topics focused on identifying pre-eclampsia in the community, hand hygiene compliance to prevent infections, and enteral nutrition for LBW and preterm infants.

The topics identified are informing the next stages of the GELA project, which include a systematic guideline adaptation process, including scoping existing guidelines or systematic reviews addressing the topics, conducting evidence synthesis where necessary, and convening of guideline panels to make recommendations linked to some or all of the priority PICO questions in the three countries [ 10 ]. Through this process we are aiming to highlight best practice methods for guideline development, including priority setting with the involvement of relevant stakeholders through a transparent and systematic process, and through ensuring the guidelines are developed following rigorous methods and clear and transparent reporting.

The priorities identified at the end of the process had limited overlap across the three countries. This highlights the importance of contextualised priority setting processes, one of the good practice principles of priority setting [ 23 ]. Although contextualised priority setting is important because contextual factors drive the needs and the gaps in healthcare delivery and implementation in different countries, there can also be common priorities and issues. Therefore, countries with similar priorities could draw on existing work at a global or country level, for adaptation into their context, to prevent any regional system fragmentation.

Some of the topics included in the online survey were broad, which made it difficult to identify the questions in required format for a guideline question (PICO) at the end of the main expert consensus meetings. This required substantial work to refine the topics, as well as additional meetings with the Steering Groups, which delayed the finalisation of priority topics and the next steps of the project that depended on priority topics being identified. Ideally, the topics included in the survey should have been more specific. Otherwise, some of the work to clarify the top-rated topics identified through the survey could have been done before the Steering Group consensus meeting, to ensure better efficiency. Future priority setting should also consider more frequent meetings with national Steering Groups advising on topics, given the iterative nature of the process. The process may have been more efficient and easier if the starting point had been a narrower topic area, rather than covering all of newborn and child health.

Although this project aimed to identify priority topics in PICO format that would lead to one recommendation, this may not have been clear to all stakeholders involved. In some cases, stakeholders identified topics that were broad in nature and that would lend themselves for a full guideline encompassing different recommendation. This should be better clarified at the start of the process, when engaging with the stakeholders.

We noted better response rates to the online survey where emails inviting stakeholders to participate in the survey were from a recognised institutional address, and supplemented with WhatsApp communication, a method increasingly recognised as valuable for sharing digital health information [ 37 ].

In some cases, certain Steering Group members tended to dominate the consensus discussions. Management of stakeholder input during these meetings is a critical required skill for successfully gathering everyone’s views. In a study done to prioritise childhood cancer supportive care topics for the development of guidelines, Loeffen and colleagues chose to do a Delphi survey as one of the strengths of this method is the lack of face-to-face meetings to prevent dominant voices being introduced [ 38 ].

Strengths and limitations

We followed a good practice method for priority setting including stakeholder engagement and using an explicit process [ 23 ]. We convened Steering Groups with representatives from relevant national decision-makers to advise on the project and topics, working in close collaboration with Departments of Health, aiming to ensure the project addresses national priorities that could fill a gap in national guidelines and guideline development processes. The online survey facilitated engagement with a broader range of stakeholders, to ensure broad representation of views and perspectives. Furthermore, the guideline development groups that would be identified in the next stage of the project to review the evidence and develop recommendations for each of the identified questions would ensure representation of key stakeholders. We also used specific criteria to rate the importance of topics, which were derived from the literature and which also received input to ensure they were understandable and relevant.

Our study had a few limitations. The response rates to surveys were poor, and could perhaps have been improved if they had remained open for longer. We sent reminder emails to those participants we had invited to complete the survey, but it was not possible to do this for others who may have received the link from others. We did not include patients or carers in the survey; research suggests that their perspectives may differ regarding what treatment decisions are important [ 39 , 40 ]. We did, however, include civil society groups which provided perspectives that consider equity and patient and caregiver perspectives.

Through an explicit process, including stakeholder engagement, reviewing of existing global guidelines and burden of disease, and online surveys we identified three priority questions each in South Africa, Malawi and Nigeria for guidelines addressing newborn and child health. We found that the process was not linear but rather iterative in nature, requiring several engagements with stakeholders to help finalise the topics, as well as managing the conflicting priorities of different groups of stakeholders. Our experience highlights the importance of contextualised priority setting, as shown by the limited overlap in topics prioritised across the three countries, as well as of the relationships with key decisionmakers, who help define the priorities.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Global Evidence Local Adaptation

Non-governmental organisation

Non-profit organisation

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Acknowledgements

Carron Finnan, SAMRC corporate communications for the design of Figs. 1 and 2 .

The members of the steering groups in each country.

This project is funded as part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union (grant number RIA2020S-3303-GELA). The funder had no role in the design of the study, or in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in writing the manuscript.

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SD, EEf, NM, MMt, MMc, TK, RC, GK, POV, and SL were involved in the conception and design of the study. SD, EE, MC, DA, EEs, DM, NB, GK, RC were involved with data acquisition or analysis. SD, EE, CN, AB, MMc, MC, DA, EEs, NB, and SL were involved in interpreting the findings. All authors contributed to drafting the manuscript or revising it critically and approved the final manuscript to be published.

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This study has been approved in the three countries in which it is taking place. In South Africa the study was approved by the SAMRC Human Research Ethics Committee on 19 July 2022 (protocol ID EC011-6/2022). In Nigeria, the study was approved by the National Health Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number NHREC/01/01/2007-30/06/2022). In Malawi, the study was approved by the College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC) (number P.06/22/3665).

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Additional file1: figure s1..

Rating of importance of survey topics in South Africa. Figure S2. Rating of importance of Malawi survey topics. Figure S3. Rating of importance of the topics included in the Nigeria survey.

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Durão, S., Effa, E., Mbeye, N. et al. Using a priority setting exercise to identify priorities for guidelines on newborn and child health in South Africa, Malawi, and Nigeria. Health Res Policy Sys 22 , 48 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01133-7

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• Clinical practice guidelines
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Ranking technologies for managing indoor pathogen transmission

JRC foresight expert exercise: what are the most promising current and emerging technologies for being up to the task when the next airborne disease like COVID-19 hits?

In a JRC-HERA study published today, well-established filtration and ventilation topped the list of the highest-impact current technologies for capturing and cleansing germs that spread through the air indoors. UV radiation and nucleic acid amplification came next in the impact ranking.

The foresight study also pinpointed other promising technologies, which require more development or are expected to appear in the future. From these, the impact of plasma-based inactivation, aerosol samplers, biosensors, and direct identification through physico-chemical properties came out on top.

Which technology should we prioritise? A balancing act

The study is the result of a foresight process designed and managed by the JRC and implemented by the JRC and HERA .

The more than 50 experts involved in the process emphasised that, despite the ranking, there is no one-size-fits-all technology for fighting airborne pathogens indoors and decision-makers should carefully weigh solutions based on their needs and the means at their disposal.

Filtration/ventilation, for example, although is time-tested and efficient, has the drawback of using high amounts of electricity. UV radiation can sterilise objects and surfaces, but has limitations in terms of deployment since, depending on the wavelength, it can damage human skin and eyes.

Similarly, plasma discharges – for example when using ozone – can damage cell membranes, inactivating pathogens this way. Yet these are rather expensive to generate and might irritate the respiratory tract and the lungs.

Another technology, aerosol samplers, both the cyclonic/impactor and the condensation type, are efficient at collecting microorganisms and viral particles. Yet, similarly to some alternative detection technologies, they cannot identify what exactly the particles are, so they must be coupled with other technologies.

One such detection technology, biosensors, widely known and used in lateral flow antigen tests (also known as rapid antigen tests), are affordable and require little skill for use. However, their detection level usually lags behind polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and they can only be used with condensation-type aerosol samplers.

PCR tests rely on nucleic acid amplification, which is highly efficient in detecting pathogens with known genomic sequences, even if they have lost structural integrity. Unfortunately, it is expensive and time-consuming, so it might not be the most suitable solution in cash-strapped and urgent circumstances. 

On the more sophisticated end, spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques can spot pathogens by looking at their physico-chemical properties, but require enhanced Artificial Intelligence for automated deployment and becoming truly disruptive.

• Supplementary information
• 16 April 2024

JRC science helps you make sense of technologies against diseases that spread through the air.

Scenario planning: three possible health crises

Other analysed detection (particle counters, cell cultures, next-generation sequencing) and decontamination technologies (electrostatic capture, thermal inactivation, chemical aerosolization, microwave radiation, photocatalytic oxidation) present similar trade-offs to those explained above.

To illustrate that the technology of the choice can depend on the situation, the authors of the study drew up three hypothetical health crises scenarios.

In the first scenario, a tuberculosis endemic broke out in a country ravished by conflict. In this case, detection was considered less important, as tuberculosis requires close contact to spread.

The second scenario, an avian influenza pandemic, meant that more research & development, as well as resources, were available. In such conditions, the experts favoured pairing up cyclonic and impactor aerosol samplers with nucleic acid amplification and biosensors for best detection.

A yearlong burden from diseases such as the flu, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the third scenario, would require filters for sampling and nucleic acid amplification for detection, according to the study participants.

In all scenarios, however, ventilation/filtration was one of the favoured decontamination technologies, building the first line of defence.

Why is this important?

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the damage that airborne pathogens can cause. Other airborne diseases, such as the flu or RSV are also a threat to patients and health systems.

Preparedness for the next wave of infections is crucial. Knowing which technologies are the most impactful can help policymakers and the health industry channel funding the most efficiently.

Indeed, the authors identified investment/funding as the primary driver of change influencing such technologies, followed by regulatory guidance.

Harmonised standards, building codes, and trained personnel were named among the drivers and enablers that shape development and adaption.

Furthermore, in a detailed set of recommendations, the authors stressed the need to come up with a comprehensive strategy for indoor air quality. For this, multisector communities, healthcare workers, building architects, scientists, regulators and civil society representatives should cooperate.

This strategy should provide guidance on healthy concentration limits for pathogens in indoor air. Too many disease-causing agents would harm individuals and communities exposed, but completely stamping out pathogens could harm the human microbiome and immune system.

What is JRC foresight?

Foresight is a crucial tool for future preparedness and resilience. While it does not predict the future, or make projections, through the use of scenarios it can help identify (potential) future developments, emerging risks, and issues decision-makers need to take into account when designing policies.

By incorporating strategic foresight into policymaking, policies can be made more future-proof and resilient to shocks.

This particular study is the result of an inclusive and participatory foresight exercise. More than 50 experts from academia, research and technology organisations, businesses, business associations, non-governmental organisations, consultancies, and public entities filled in a survey and more than 30 participated in workshop discussions.

What is HERA?

The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is a Commission service set up to strengthen Europe’s ability to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to cross-border health emergencies by ensuring the development, manufacturing, procurement, and equitable distribution of key medical countermeasures. HERA prepares for future emergencies by analysing, identifying and prioritising possible health threats in view of ensuring the development, production and distribution of medicines, vaccines and other crisis-related medical countermeasures, such as gloves and masks.

Upcoming JRC foresight activity

The JRC publishes regular reports and bulletins that use foresight thinking.

Horizon scanning bulletins focus on detecting emerging “game changers” or trends with major impact on society and policy, at an early stage.

The upcoming Global Trends Report, informed by the discussions at the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) conference in November will delve into the EU’s strategic choices ahead of the next electoral cycle and beyond.

The Future Risks Report, expected to be published this spring, presents a foresight approach to increase preparedness for unexpected developments and the risks they could create, based on ten snapshots of the future. In this study, the EU Policy Lab analyses different potential risks across these snapshots of the future, grouping them into ten wider risk clusters.

Futures Garden showcases pioneering policy innovation through speculative design, creativity, empathy, and analytical insight. It is a visionary journey into emerging trends and the issues shaping the EU’s future.

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Published on 17.4.2024 in Vol 26 (2024)

Mobile Apps to Support Mental Health Response in Natural Disasters: Scoping Review

Authors of this article:

• Nwamaka Alexandra Ezeonu 1 , MBBS, MSc, MBA   ; 
• Attila J Hertelendy 2, 3 , BSc, MHS, MSc, PhD   ; 
• Medard Kofi Adu 4 , BSc, MSc   ; 
• Janice Y Kung 5 , BCom, LMIS   ; 
• Ijeoma Uchenna Itanyi 1, 6, 7 , MBBS, MPH   ; 
• Raquel da Luz Dias 4 , BSc, MSc, PhD   ; 
• Belinda Agyapong 8 , HDip, BSc, MEd   ; 
• Petra Hertelendy 9 , BS   ; 
• Francis Ohanyido 10 , MBBS, MBA, MPH   ; 
• Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong 4 , BSc, PGD, MBChB, MSc, MD, PhD   ; 
• Ejemai Eboreime 4 , MBBS, MSc, PhD  

1 Center for Translation and Implementation Research, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

2 Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States

3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

4 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

5 Geoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

6 Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria

7 Department of Public Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

8 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

9 Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States

10 West African Institute of Public Health, Abuja, Nigeria

Corresponding Author:

Ejemai Eboreime, MBBS, MSc, PhD

Department of Psychiatry

Faculty of Medicine

Dalhousie University

5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane

8th Floor Abbie J Lane Memorial Building, QEII Health Sciences Centre

Halifax, NS, B3H 2E2

Phone: 1 9024732479

Email: [email protected]

Background: Disasters are becoming more frequent due to the impact of extreme weather events attributed to climate change, causing loss of lives, property, and psychological trauma. Mental health response to disasters emphasizes prevention and mitigation, and mobile health (mHealth) apps have been used for mental health promotion and treatment. However, little is known about their use in the mental health components of disaster management.

Objective: This scoping review was conducted to explore the use of mobile phone apps for mental health responses to natural disasters and to identify gaps in the literature.

Methods: We identified relevant keywords and subject headings and conducted comprehensive searches in 6 electronic databases. Studies in which participants were exposed to a man-made disaster were included if the sample also included some participants exposed to a natural hazard. Only full-text studies published in English were included. The initial titles and abstracts of the unique papers were screened by 2 independent review authors. Full texts of the selected papers that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed by the 2 independent reviewers. Data were extracted from each selected full-text paper and synthesized using a narrative approach based on the outcome measures, duration, frequency of use of the mobile phone apps, and the outcomes. This scoping review was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews).

Results: Of the 1398 papers retrieved, 5 were included in this review. A total of 3 studies were conducted on participants exposed to psychological stress following a disaster while 2 were for disaster relief workers. The mobile phone apps for the interventions included Training for Life Skills, Sonoma Rises, Headspace, Psychological First Aid, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Behavioural Health Disaster Response Apps. The different studies assessed the effectiveness or efficacy of the mobile app, feasibility, acceptability, and characteristics of app use or predictors of use. Different measures were used to assess the effectiveness of the apps’ use as either the primary or secondary outcome.

Conclusions: A limited number of studies are exploring the use of mobile phone apps for mental health responses to disasters. The 5 studies included in this review showed promising results. Mobile apps have the potential to provide effective mental health support before, during, and after disasters. However, further research is needed to explore the potential of mobile phone apps in mental health responses to all hazards.

Introduction

Rising global average temperatures and associated changes in weather patterns result in extreme weather events that include hazards such as heatwaves, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and droughts [ 1 ]. These extreme events linked to climate change are resulting in overlapping and so-called cascading disasters leading to record numbers of “billion dollar” disasters with significant losses of lives and property [ 2 , 3 ]. In 2021 alone, approximately 10,000 fatalities caused by disasters were reported globally, while the economic loss was estimated at approximately US $343 billion [ 4 ]. Disasters are predicted to become more recurring as a result of the impact of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that trap heat and cause global temperatures to rise [ 5 ].

These catastrophes can adversely affect physical health, mental health, and well-being in both the short and long term as a result of changes due to the political and socioeconomic content, evacuations, social disruption, damage to health care facilities, and financial losses [ 6 - 10 ]. It is estimated that about 33% of people directly exposed to natural disasters will experience mental health sequelae such as posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSDs), anxiety, and depression, among others [ 11 , 12 ].

There is growing recognition of the importance of incorporating mental health into medical and emergency aspects of disaster response [ 12 , 13 ]. However, in contrast to most medical response strategies that are largely curative, mental health response to disasters is predicated on the principles of preventive medicine, thus, emphasizing health promotion, disaster prevention, preparedness, and mitigation [ 14 ]. The strategies of mental health response span across primary prevention (mitigating the risk of ill health before it develops), secondary prevention (early detection and intervention), and tertiary prevention (managing established ailment and averting further complications) [ 15 ].

Mobile health (mHealth) technology has shown great promise in mental health and has been applied across the 3 levels of prevention [ 16 - 20 ]. For example, SMS text messaging and mobile apps have been developed to promote mental health awareness among young people and older adults (primary prevention) [ 21 ]. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, mHealth was deployed at the population level in Canada to screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression (secondary prevention) [ 22 ]. In addition, mHealth interventions were deployed to support first responders and essential workers during the pandemic [ 23 , 24 ]. Further, the technology has been deployed for therapeutic purposes in patients diagnosed with mental health conditions while simultaneously providing support against complications such as suicidal ideation (tertiary prevention) [ 25 ].

Although videoconferencing and phone calls can be used for mental health conditions, mobile apps provide more mobility and accessibility, are interactive, more adaptable to users’ routines, and can be used repeatedly [ 26 , 27 ]. While numerous academic studies have been conducted on the app of mHealth in the preventive and curative management of mental health conditions in clinical, community, and public health settings, including epidemic response and control, little is known about the use of mobile apps in the mental health components of natural disaster management. This scoping review aims to fill this gap in the literature by mapping where and how mobile apps have been used as part of natural disaster mental health response strategies.

This scoping review was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) [ 28 ]. The PRISMA-ScR checklist is available in Multimedia Appendix 1 . The protocol was not registered.

Search Strategy

A medical librarian (JYK) collaborated with the research team to identify relevant keywords and subject headings for the review, such as mHealth or m-health; mobile health or mobile applications; public health emergency, disaster, or catastrophe; and flood, earthquake, or hurricane. Equipped with this knowledge, the librarian developed and executed comprehensive searches in 6 electronic databases, including Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. The search was conducted on June 30, 2022, and was limited to the English language. The full search strategies are available in Multimedia Appendix 2 .

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

We included papers that applied mobile apps for mental health responses to disasters. Papers were included if the study participants were persons affected by a natural disaster (setting), the intervention included using a mobile phone app, and the outcome included the assessment of a mental health problem. Studies in which participants were exposed to a man-made disaster were included if the sample also included some participants exposed to a natural disaster. The mental health conditions included were stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Only full-text studies published in English were included. Studies that did not include any intervention with a mobile app for mental health, those focused on videoconferencing or phone calls, and papers on protocols, trial registration, or review were excluded.

Selection of Studies

The search identified papers that were retrieved from the databases. After removing duplicates, the initial titles and abstracts of the unique papers were screened by 2 independent review authors based on the inclusion criteria in a web-based tool called Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation Ltd) [ 29 ]. Full texts of the selected papers that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed by the 2 independent reviewers. The research team resolved disagreements through discussion. The bibliographies from the included studies were also reviewed to identify additional studies for inclusion.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Data from each selected full-text paper were extracted into a data extraction form developed by the research team. The data included the author and year of publication, country of study, study design, number of participants, type of natural disaster, name of the mobile app, duration of use of the app, outcome measures, and the study’s findings. These data were synthesized using a narrative approach based on the outcome measures, the duration, frequency of use of the mobile apps, and the outcomes.

Search Results

Of the 1532 papers retrieved from the searches, 976 unique papers had their titles and abstracts screened after deduplication. A total of 38 papers were moved to full-text screening, and data were extracted from 5 papers [ 30 - 34 ] ( Figure 1 ). Table 1 shows the summary of the details of the papers.

a TLS: Training for Life Skills.

b PTSD: posttraumatic stress disorder.

c MBSR: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

d PFA: Psychological First Aid.

e SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Characteristics of Included Studies

Of the 5 studies included in this review, 3 (60%) were conducted in the United States [ 30 , 31 , 34 ], while 2 (40%) were conducted in South Korea [ 32 , 33 ]. All studies used different study designs. A total of 3 studies used a quasi-experimental design—the first, a single group postexperiment with 22 participants [ 32 ]; the second, a multiple-baseline single case experimental design with 7 participants [ 30 ], while the third study used a 1-group pre- and posttest design with 318 participants [ 31 ]. The Training for Life Skills (TLS) app study had only a posttest following the use of the app [ 32 ]; the other 2 had baseline and follow-up measurements with the Sonoma Rises app study having, in addition, preintervention and postintervention measurements. The Psychological First Aid (PFA) study was designed as a qualitative study, while the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study used a mixed methods descriptive design.

Characteristics of the Population

The TLS, Sonoma, and Headspace apps were designed for disaster survivors, while the PFA and SAMHA apps were designed to support disaster relief workers. The TLS app study was administered to adults with a median age of 32 years. Participants of the Sonoma Rises app study had a mean age of 16 (SD 0.98) years, while participants of the Headspace app study had a mean age of 46.1 (SD 10) years. The TLS app study focused on all types of disasters; the Sonoma Rises study focused on adolescents exposed to wildfires, while the Headspace app focused on women who experienced hurricanes and deep-water oil spillage. The PFA study involved 19 disaster health care workers who first underwent disaster simulation training using the mobile app.

Characteristics of the Mobile App Interventions

The included studies revealed several mobile phone apps used as interventions. The first, the TLS app, was used as a psychological first aid program for disaster survivors with content on information, psychological healing, and mood change [ 32 ]. The second was the Sonoma Rises app, a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)–compliant, cloud-based mobile app with daily push notifications as reminders designed to help survivors of wildfires or other disasters to find their new routines, build resilience, and increase well-being. The app included 6 self-paced content sections, psychoeducation, and direct connections to free and local mental health care services. The third was the Headspace app for a mindfulness-based stress reduction program that included a series consisting of 10 sessions designed to be used for about 10 minutes per day. The SAMHSA Disaster App equips behavioral health providers to respond to all kinds of traumatic incidents by enabling them to readily access disaster-specific information and other important materials directly on their mobile devices [ 34 ]. The PFA mobile app provided evidence-based information and tools for disaster workers to prepare for, execute, and recover from providing psychological first aid during disasters. Accessibility via smartphones and the inclusion of multimedia interventions and assessments tailored for disaster contexts were key features enabling its use integrated with the simulation training [ 33 ].

Frequency and Duration of App Use

The 3 survivor-based apps had variations in the duration of the intervention (app use), which were 8 weeks, at least 5 times a week, frequency of use per day not specified [ 32 ]; 4 weeks for 10 minutes per day [ 30 ]; and 6 weeks for 5-10 minutes per day [ 31 ]. Both the TLS app and the Sonoma Rises app studies had weekly follow-up assessments. The different interventions were applied at least a year following the disasters. Participants in the Sonoma Rises app study used the app on an average of 17 (SD 8.92) days and visited the app an average of 43.50 (SD 30.56) times, with an average session lasting 56.85 (SD 27.87) seconds. The mean time spent on the app was 35.77 (SD 30.03) minutes, while for the TLS app study, the median time spent on the app over the 8 weeks of use was 200-399 minutes. Participants used the Headspace app an average of 24 (SD 36) days and logged in an average of 36 (SD 80) times. There was no description of the frequency and duration of use for the relief worker apps.

Effectiveness Outcomes

Effectiveness outcomes refer to the effects or impact of an intervention or program on the intended outcomes or goals. Different measures were used to assess the effectiveness of the apps’ use as either the primary or secondary outcome. Emotional quotients (emotional stability), basic rhythm quotients (brain stability), alpha-blocking rates (increased positive mood), and brain quotients assessed using electroencephalogram (EEG)–measured brainwave activities adjusted for self-reported app use time were used in the TLS app study [ 32 ]. The Headspace app study assessed effectiveness using a combination of measures such as trait mindfulness using a 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)—trait version; depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD-10); perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, 4-item version (PSS-4); and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [ 31 ]. The Sonoma Rises app study measured efficacy using daily ratings of anxiety and fear, weekly measures of post-traumatic stress symptoms using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS-5) for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition ( DSM-5 ), internalizing and externalizing symptoms using the Behaviour and Feelings Survey (BFS), psychosocial functioning using the Ohio Scale for Youth—Functioning subscale (OSY), and measures of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), well-being—Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), sleep (Insomnia—Severity Index [ISI]), academic engagement (Student Engagement Instrument [SEI]), and perceived social support (Wills’ Social Support Scale [WSSS]) [ 30 ].

All 3 survivor-based apps were found to have positive benefits in addressing mental health issues among persons exposed to natural disasters. The TLS mobile app was shown to be effective in increasing positive and decreasing negative psychological factors according to app use time. The TLS mobile apps’ use had a significant effect on the emotional quotients (β=.550; P <.008), explanatory power (EP) was 30%, had a significant positive effect on the basic rhythm quotient (left brain: β=.598; P <.003; EP 35; right brain: β=.451; P <.035; EP 20%). Additionally, it had a significant positive effect on the alpha-blocking rate (left brain: β=.510; P <.015; EP 26%; right brain: β=.463; P <.035, EP 21%); and a significant positive effect on the brain quotient (β=.451; P <.035; EP 20%) [ 16 ]. The Headspace app had a positive effect on depression (odds ratio [OR] 0.3, 95% CI 0.11-0.81), physical activity (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.0-7.8), sleep latency (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.11-0.81), sleep duration (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.07-0.86), and sleep quality (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.96); however, there was no change in mindfulness scores from baseline to follow-up. For the Sonoma Rises app, no significant effects were observed for the clinical and functional outcomes because the longitudinal part of the study was affected by limited statistical power as a result of small sample size and historical confounds that made the participants miss data submission. However, visual inspection of individual data following the intervention showed downward trends across the study phases for daily levels of anxiety, fearfulness, and individual posttraumatic stress symptom severity.

For the PFA app, the qualitative study explored disaster health workers’ experiences with simulation training using focus group discussions. A total of 19 participants engaged in disaster scenarios with standardized patients, using a PFA app for guidance. Workers valued the practical educational approach, felt increased self-efficacy to support survivors, and identified areas for enhancing simulations and app tools to optimize effectiveness.

Implementation Outcomes

Implementation outcomes refer to the effects of an intervention or program implementation on various aspects of the implementation process, such as the fidelity of implementation, acceptability, adoption, feasibility, and maintainability. In the papers reviewed, feasibility was assessed using enrollment, program participation, and retention. Acceptability was measured using how well participants liked the app using a rating scale, how much of the app program was completed, the biggest barriers, and whether the app would be recommended to others. Data on characteristics of app use (engagement) were measured using the total number of log ins, average log ins per program completer, platform used (iOS, Android, or web-based), day of week of use (weekday vs weekend), and time of day of use (in 4-hour blocks) [ 30 , 31 ].

The Headspace app was reported to be cost-effective to implement and easy to use [ 31 ]. For engagement, only 14% (43/318) of the enrolled women used the app. The level of engagement with the app was high, with 72% (31/43) of participants completing some or all the sessions. Retention was also high with 74% (32/43) of the participants completing the follow-up survey. Lack of time was cited as the main barrier to using the app for 37% (16/43) of users and 49% (94/193) of nonusers. The majority of the users (32/43, 74%) reported high levels of satisfaction with the app. Acceptability was also high, with most participants (32/43, 74%) reporting that they liked the app and 86% (37/43) reporting that they would recommend it to others. Characteristics of app use showed that of the 1530 log ins, most participants (n=1191, 78%) used the iOS platform, mainly on weekdays (n=1147, 75%) and at different times of day mostly from noon to 4 PM (n=375, 25%).

Sonoma Rises was found to be feasible in terms of engagement and satisfaction among teens with high levels of disaster-related posttraumatic stress symptoms [ 30 ]. The self-assessment and data visualization features of the Sonoma Rises app strongly appealed to all the participants, and they were willing to recommend the app to their friends. Self-satisfaction with the mobile app was rated as extremely high (mean 8.50, SD 0.58, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 as totally satisfied). The participants agreed or strongly agreed to recommend this intervention to a friend. The participants found the intervention helpful (mean 2, SD 0.82); had the content, functions, and capabilities they needed (mean 3, SD 1.12); and were satisfied with how easy it was to use the app (mean 2, SD 0), on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 as strongly agree and 5 as strongly disagree. In the qualitative feedback, to make the use of the app better, the participants suggested more notifications to return to the app and the use of the app immediately after a disaster. Implementation outcome was not an objective of the TLS app, hence, none was reported.

Other Mobile Apps With Potential Use in Disasters

Some mobile apps not meeting the inclusion criteria showed promise for supporting mental health in disasters. PTSD Coach provides tools for managing PTSD symptoms [ 35 ]. Though not disaster-specific, its psychoeducation, symptom tracking, and coping strategies could aid survivors. Similarly, COVID Coach was designed to help manage pandemic-related stress and anxiety [ 36 ]. These apps are summarized in Table 2 .

a PTSD: posttraumatic stress disorder.

Principal Findings

This review sought to identify and map the use of mobile apps for the mental health component of natural disaster management. We found only 5 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The scarcity of published literature in this area suggests that mobile apps have not been extensively used in mental health responses to natural disasters. Academic studies on the public’s use of mobile technologies in disaster management are still nascent [ 37 ], but there has been increased interest in developing and deploying digital technology and mobile apps by governments and nonstate actors as part of disaster preparedness and response [ 38 , 39 ]. A recent systematic review found that there is a lack of mental health preparedness in most countries when it comes to disasters [ 40 ]. The 5 studies included in our scoping review confirmed this gap and further demonstrated that mobile apps can provide mental health support to disaster-affected individuals and communities. The studies found that the use of mobile apps was associated with improvements in mental health outcomes, such as decreased anxiety and depression symptoms and increased resilience. The reviewed studies also suggest that mobile apps can be effective in delivering psychoeducation and coping skills training to disaster-affected individuals. A 2017 scoping review found that mobile apps have been largely used for communication purposes in disaster management [ 37 ]. The scope of use was classified into 5 categories which are not mutually exclusive. These categories are (1) crowdsourcing (organize and collect disaster-related data from the crowd), (2) collaborating platforms (serve as a platform for collaboration during disasters), (3) alerting and information (disseminate authorized information before and during disasters), (4) collating (gather, filter, and analyze data to build situation awareness), and (5) notifying (for users to notify others during disasters) [ 37 ].

Some authors classify disaster response into 3 phases: preparedness, response, and mitigation [ 41 ]. The studies included in this review exclusively examined the use of mobile apps during the recovery phase of disaster management. However, none of the studies explored the potential of mobile apps during the preparedness or response phases of disaster management. By addressing this gap, future research could help to provide more comprehensive and effective strategies for the use of mobile apps throughout all phases of disaster management. Examples of potential opportunities are demonstrated in Figure 2 .

Preparedness Phase

Mobile apps can play a critical role as primary prevention interventions by raising awareness and promoting mental health literacy in the community in preparation for natural disasters. These apps can provide information on common mental health problems that may arise during and after disasters and offer tips on staying mentally healthy. For example, apps can include psychoeducation modules on coping skills, stress reduction, and self-care techniques, as well as information on how to prepare for a disaster and what steps to take to protect one’s mental health during and after a disaster. The use and effectiveness of mobile apps in health literacy have been demonstrated in the literature [ 19 ], thus providing a foundation for adaptation in disaster management.

Response Phase

Mobile apps can be used to connect people in need of mental health support with mental health professionals or other resources. For example, apps can provide information on emergency hotlines, crisis intervention services, and support groups. This was demonstrated as effective during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 42 ]. Mobile apps can also provide coping strategies and techniques to manage stress and anxiety in response to other natural disasters [ 34 ]. In this scoping review, we found that 3 apps had positive benefits in addressing mental health issues among persons exposed to natural disasters.

Recovery Phase

As part of secondary and tertiary prevention strategies, mobile apps can provide valuable ongoing support to those affected by disasters. For secondary prevention, mobile apps can be designed to support early detection and intervention for mental health problems after a natural disaster. These apps can include screening tools to identify common mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD and offer appropriate referral pathways [ 43 ]. Additionally, apps can provide symptom-tracking tools to help individuals monitor their mental health over time [ 43 ]. For tertiary prevention, mobile apps can support the ongoing management of established mental health problems after a natural disaster. For example, apps can provide evidence-based psychotherapy interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help individuals manage their symptoms [ 44 ]. They can also connect individuals with support groups and peer-to-peer networks to provide additional emotional support and help individuals connect with others who have experienced similar challenges. Furthermore, mobile apps can offer self-help tools, such as meditation exercises and mood tracking, to help people cope with the ongoing mental health effects of the disaster. They can also provide information on local mental health services and support groups, helping individuals access the resources they need to manage their mental health.

General Mental Health Apps Show Promise for Disaster Response

While not specifically designed for disaster contexts, some mobile apps demonstrate strategies to support mental health that could aid disaster survivors. PTSD Coach delivers PTSD psychoeducation, symptom tracking tools, coping skills training, and crisis resource access—elements that could help survivors experiencing common postdisaster issues like trauma or loss [ 35 ]. Though it was tailored for veterans and civilians with PTSD, 1 study found it improved users’ depression and functioning. Similarly, COVID Coach offered pandemic-related stress management through symptom tracking, healthy coping recommendations, and crisis line referrals [ 36 ]. By leveraging the scalability of mobile apps, COVID Coach reached many struggling during a global crisis. These examples illustrate that apps may provide accessible, far-reaching mediums for disseminating disaster mental health resources—even without disaster-specific tailoring. Research should further explore adapting evidence-based, general mental health apps for disaster contexts or incorporate elements of them into future disaster response tools. With mental health needs magnified during disasters, mobile apps with thoughtful design show promise in expanding access to psychosocial support.

There are several potential limitations when using mobile apps for mental health responses to disasters. One of the main concerns is the accessibility of these apps, as not all members of the affected communities may have access to smartphones or internet connectivity. Furthermore, language and cultural barriers may prevent effective use. Another potential limitation is the quality and accuracy of the information provided. Without proper oversight, some apps may provide misinformation or inaccurate advice, which could exacerbate mental health issues. In addition, privacy concerns around collecting and storing sensitive data must be addressed.

Barriers like lack of mobile devices and internet access can impede adoption, especially in marginalized areas. Apps not designed for low literacy users or that are only available in certain languages could also limit accessibility. Concerns around privacy and security may deter some individuals. However, smartphone ubiquity globally enables use by vulnerable groups. Government agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can promote adoption by integrating vetted apps into disaster protocols and funding dissemination. Developing apps with stakeholders and prelaunch user testing also facilitate uptake. Monitoring user feedback allows for ongoing optimization and troubleshooting of barriers. Cultural tailoring to address stigma and use local beliefs further enables implementation success. Finally, limited evidence-based research into app effectiveness highlights the need for more rigorous evaluation and testing of mobile apps for disaster mental health response.

This scoping review has certain methodological limitations that should be considered while interpreting its results. First, the search was restricted to 6 electronic databases and only English-language papers were considered. We also searched MEDLINE and not PubMed, and these may have led to the omission of some relevant studies. Second, the study focused on mobile phone apps for mental health response to disasters, disregarding other types of technology that could also be used in disaster management such as telehealth, SMS text messaging, and emails. Moreover, since the study included only 5 papers, it may not offer a comprehensive overview of the use of mobile phone apps in disaster response strategies. There is the possibility of the existence of apps not yet published in academic literature. Fourth, the nonuse of a control group in the design of the studies makes it difficult to determine whether the observed effects were entirely due to the use of the apps or other characteristics of the participants that predisposed them to use the apps. Fifth, the small sample sizes for the studies mean they require caution with generalization. Despite these limitations, the review provides valuable insights into the use of mobile apps in disaster response and serves as a useful resource for developing contextually appropriate mobile apps for disaster management. Last, our study focused on natural disasters, further research should examine the role of apps in supporting mental health in conflict and complex emergencies such as wars, outbreaks of violence, and complex political conflict situations [ 45 ].

Conclusions

This scoping review found that mobile apps have not been extensively used in mental health responses to natural disasters, with only 5 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. However, the studies included in this review demonstrate that mobile apps can be useful in providing mental health support to disaster-affected individuals, as well as equip disaster responders. There is a critical gap identified in this study, as none of the studies investigated the use of mobile apps for potential victims in the preparedness or response phases of disaster management. We, therefore, recommend that mobile apps be integrated into the various phases of disaster management as part of mental health response. Additionally, it is important to ensure that these apps are accessible to all members of the community, taking into account cultural, linguistic, and other factors that may impact their effectiveness. Mobile apps have great potential to provide valuable ongoing support to those affected by disasters, and they can be a valuable resource in disaster management, helping people cope with the mental health effects of disasters and connecting with the necessary support services.

The findings from this scoping review have important implications for policy makers, disaster management professionals, and mental health practitioners. There is a clear need for policies and protocols that integrate evidence-based mobile apps into mental health disaster planning and response. Disaster agencies should invest in developing, evaluating, and widely disseminating mobile apps specifically designed to mitigate psychological trauma before, during, and after catastrophic events. Mental health professionals can incorporate vetted mobile apps into their standard of care for at-risk disaster survivors. Going forward, a collaborative approach across these groups will be essential to leverage mobile technology in building community resilience and addressing the rising mental health burdens in an era defined by climate change–fueled natural disasters.

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. The funder was not involved in the conceptualization or implementation of the study, nor the decision to publish the findings.

Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

The PRISMA-SCR checklist. PRISMA-SCR: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

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Abbreviations

Edited by G Eysenbach; submitted 13.06.23; peer-reviewed by T Benham, K Goniewicz, R Konu, J Ranse, P Moreno-Peral; comments to author 10.01.24; revised version received 25.02.24; accepted 23.03.24; published 17.04.24.

©Nwamaka Alexandra Ezeonu, Attila J Hertelendy, Medard Kofi Adu, Janice Y Kung, Ijeoma Uchenna Itanyi, Raquel da Luz Dias, Belinda Agyapong, Petra Hertelendy, Francis Ohanyido, Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong, Ejemai Eboreime. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 17.04.2024.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.

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• CSE giving overview
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