Abstract
Objective: To analyze the research hotspots and trends of health science popularization in China from 1994 to 2024, and to provide a scientific reference for understanding its development. Methods: A computerized search was conducted across three Chinese databases - CNKI, WanFang, and VIP Database - for articles published from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2024. Bibliometric analysis was performed using Excel and CiteSpace. Results: A total of 9,285 articles were retrieved, with 2,100 meeting the inclusion criteria. The annual number of articles on health science popularization research showed a consistent upward trend from 1994 to 2024, increasing from 10 articles in 1994 to 337 in 2024. The top three academic journals publishing in this field were Chinese Journal of Health Education (n=110), Public Communication of Science & Technology (n=59), and Health Education and Health Promotion (n=54). The most prolific authors were Wu YiBo (n=17), Han Ye (n=11), and Wang Tao (n=10). The leading institutions by article count were People’s Medical Publishing House (n=32), Peking University (n=20), Chinese Health Education Center (n=15), and Shanghai Health Promotion Center (n=15). The top three keywords by frequency were health science popularization (n=325), medical science popularization (n=238), and health education (n=159). The largest keyword clusters were health science popularization, medical science popularization, and health education. The strongest citation bursts were observed for medical science popularization, WeChat, and health communication. Conclusion: Health science popularization research has attracted significant attention from experts and scholars. Its development can be divided into three stages: initial emergence, steady growth, and rapid development. Research hotspots have evolved considerably across these stages, with a recent focus on health science popularization through new media platforms.
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