<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Objective</h3><p>To review and analyze the basic information and distribution of core articles in the global research frontier of nursing, so as to ascertain the current trend in the field.</p></sec><sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>A total of 37 highly cited essential science indicator (ESI) papers in the nursing discipline were retrieved, which were compared with the core article collection of the ESI research frontier in January 2019 to understand the current nursing research frontiers. Subsequently, a statistical analysis of the core articles that constituted the nursing research frontiers was performed using a bibliometric method. The analysis was conducted with multiple aspects including the number of core articles, total number of citations, average publication year, issuing country, participating institution, citing paper, journal distribution, and core researcher.</p></sec><sec><h3>Results</h3><p>At present, the two international research frontiers of nursing are patient-centered care (Research Frontier 1) and missed care (Research Frontier 2). These two frontiers include a total of 12 core articles, 6 of which are highly cited Web of Science-indexed nursing papers. Research Frontier 1 includes three core articles that were cited 389 times. Research Frontier 2 includes nine core articles that were cited 841 times. Articles in the two frontiers were cited by 454 and 841 papers, respectively, most of which are in the United States. In addition, the 12 core articles were published across eight journals, the impact factors of which are all relatively high. Lastly, Research Frontier 1 involves 11 authors, whereas Research Frontier 2 involves 49 authors, of which seven authors have published more than two articles.</p></sec><sec><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The core articles in the frontier of international nursing research demonstrate distinctive features in their issuing country/region, journal distribution, and participating institution. Review and analysis of the core articles of international nursing research frontiers can help nursing staff understand the current research hotspots and consequently perform corresponding scientific research to promote the development of the nursing discipline.</p></sec></abstract>

ObjectiveTo review and analyze the basic information and distribution of core articles in the global research frontier of nursing, so as to ascertain the current trend in the field.MethodsA total of 37 highly cited essential science indicator (ESI) papers in the nursing discipline were retrieved, which were compared with the core article collection of the ESI research frontier in January 2019 to understand the current nursing research frontiers. Subsequently, a statistical analysis of the core articles that constituted the nursing research frontiers was performed using a bibliometric method. The analysis was conducted with multiple aspects including the number of core articles, total number of citations, average publication year, issuing country, participating institution, citing paper, journal distribution, and core researcher.ResultsAt present, the two international research frontiers of nursing are patient-centered care (Research Frontier 1) and missed care (Research Frontier 2). These two frontiers include a total of 12 core articles, 6 of which are highly cited Web of Science-indexed nursing papers. Research Frontier 1 includes three core articles that were cited 389 times. Research Frontier 2 includes nine core articles that were cited 841 times. Articles in the two frontiers were cited by 454 and 841 papers, respectively, most of which are in the United States. In addition, the 12 core articles were published across eight journals, the impact factors of which are all relatively high. Lastly, Research Frontier 1 involves 11 authors, whereas Research Frontier 2 involves 49 authors, of which seven authors have published more than two articles.ConclusionsThe core articles in the frontier of international nursing research demonstrate distinctive features in their issuing country/region, journal distribution, and participating institution. Review and analysis of the core articles of international nursing research frontiers can help nursing staff understand the current research hotspots and consequently perform corresponding scientific research to promote the development of the nursing discipline.

A bibliometric analysis of core articles of international nursing research frontiers based on the Web of Science database

Frontiers of Nursing

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

ObjectiveTo review and analyze the basic information and distribution of core articles in the global research frontier of nursing, so as to ascertain the...

Journal	Number of published core article	Impact factor	WOS discipline	Division
BMJ Quality Safety	3	7.226	Health Care Sciences & Services	Q1
International Journal of Nursing Studies	3	3.656	Nursing	Q1
Assistenza Infermieristica E Ricerca	1	0.4.4	Nursing	Q4
Journal of Clinical Nursing	1	1.635	Nursing	Q2
Lancet	1	53.254	Medicine, General & Internal	Q1

Journal	Number of published core article	Impact factor	WOS discipline	Division
PLoS One	1	2.766	Multidisciplinary Sciences	Q1
Medical Care Research and Review	1	2.315	Health Care Sciences & Services	Q2
Journal of Advanced Nursing	1	2.267	Nursing	Q1

A bibliometric analysis of core articles of international nursing research frontiers based on the Web of Science database

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Mar 31, 2020

Page range: 31 - 38

Received: Apr 03, 2019

Accepted: Jun 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2020-0010

Keywords
nursing, core article, research frontier, bibliometrics, highly cited paper

© 2020 Shi-Fan Han et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Journal distribution of Research Frontier 2.

Journal distribution of Research Frontier 1.

A bibliometric analysis of core articles of international nursing research frontiers based on the Web of Science database

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Mar 31, 2020

Page range: 31 - 38

Received: Apr 03, 2019

Accepted: Jun 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2020-0010

Keywordsnursing, core article, research frontier, bibliometrics, highly cited paper

© 2020 Shi-Fan Han et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Journal distribution of Research Frontier 2.

Journal distribution of Research Frontier 1.

Keywords
nursing, core article, research frontier, bibliometrics, highly cited paper