Bibliometric analysis of ergonomics studies in nursing: Trends and highlights between 1981–2025
Seçil Ergin Doğan, Yasemin AltinbaşBackground
Ergonomics is important for improving nurses’ working conditions and preventing work-related health problems. Research on ergonomics in nursing has grown significantly, becoming a major interest for nurse health, patient safety, and work processes.
Objective
This study aims to establish a direct conceptual link between ergonomic risk dimensions and the bibliometric approach.
Methods
A comprehensive search of the Web of Science database was conducted, and 1292 studies published between 1981 and 2025 were analysed. Bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate performance analysis, scientific mapping, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution. Data were analyzed using RStudio (Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer software. Authors’ keywords were used in the analyses.
Results
The findings showed that the field has grown considerably in recent years and that the literature has mainly focused on musculoskeletal disorders, patient handling, physical workload, and patient safety. Keyword co-occurrence analysis demonstrated that physical ergonomics themes remained dominant, while psychosocial, organizational, and technology-oriented concepts such as burnout, teamwork, safety culture, usability, telehealth, and artificial intelligence became increasingly visible. The thematic evolution analysis suggested increasing attention to patient safety, systems-oriented approaches, and digital healthcare technologies, while traditional themes related to occupational exposures and work tasks remained prominent throughout the study period.
Conclusion
Nursing ergonomics research has increasingly incorporated physical, cognitive, organizational, and technology-oriented dimensions over time, reflecting a more multidimensional understanding of ergonomics. While physical ergonomics themes continue to dominate the literature, cognitive, organizational, and technology-oriented dimensions are becoming increasingly prominent, highlighting the need for more systems-based and interdisciplinary ergonomic approaches in future research.