Decision-Making in Healthcare. A Bibliometric Exploration

Abstract

Abstract The dynamic environment in which healthcare systems operate highlights the importance of the decision-making process, especially considering the fact that it influences the quality of services and the well-being of patients. The aim of this research is to examine the conceptual link between the concepts “decision”, “decision making process”, “healthcare”, and “management” and how they interact in the literature. Thus, the research aims to identify common trends and patterns in these areas. The research carries out scientific mapping using a three-stage methodological approach: bibliographic data collection through refined searches in the Web of Science database, data analysis using Biblioshiny, and subsequent bibliometric analysis of the 259 scientific documents collected. The main results of the analyses carried out illustrated an increase in scientific publications over time, especially in 2023, when most academic materials were published. International collaboration is in its infancy, with the US and China leading such collaborations. The theoretical implications are centered around the methodological approach to research in the healthcare field. Regarding the practical implications, the research provides information to decision-makers in the medical sector by identifying current contexts in the lives of organizations, but also to academics, with the research having the role of revealing publication sources and other information of interest to them.