A MAPPING GLOBAL RESEARCH ON HOSPITAL AREA MALPRACTICE IN DEVELOPMENT & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A BIBLIOMETRIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Hospital malpractice persists globally due to multiple contributing factors. This study offers an evidence-based overview of the development of hospital malpractice research through bibliometric analysis. A total of 444 Scopus-indexed publications from 2019 to 2025 containing the terms “hospital” and “malpractice” were reviewed and categorized into developed and developing country groups. VOSviewer and NVivo 12 Plus supported the analytical process. Results indicate a significant increase in malpractice-related publications during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) across both groups. Recent research trends highlight patient safety and patient satisfaction as dominant themes. Additional emerging topics include ethical considerations, diagnostic errors and their effects on children, and broader implications of malpractice. The findings emphasize the need for stronger collaboration and clearer communication between patients and healthcare professionals as essential strategies for reducing and preventing malpractice within hospital environments.