Global research trends in perioperative pressure injury prevention: A bibliometric analysis from repositioning to technology-assisted strategies
Nova Maryani, Cahyo Budiyantoro, Bowo Adiyanto, Ardi PramonoBackground:
Perioperative pressure injuries remain a major patient safety challenge, particularly among critically ill and immobilised patients. Although repositioning remains a cornerstone of prevention, recent advances indicate a transition towards interdisciplinary and technology-assisted prevention strategies.
Aim:
This study aimed to analyse global research trends and the thematic evolution of perioperative pressure injury prevention through bibliometric analysis.
Methods:
A bibliometric analysis was conducted using 1155 Scopus-indexed publications up to 2025, analysed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix.
Results:
Research productivity increased substantially after 2015. The United States and the United Kingdom were the leading contributors. Keyword clustering identified major themes including critical care, repositioning, wound management, and technological innovation. The overlay visualisation demonstrated a transition from conventional repositioning towards machine learning, pressure monitoring systems, and predictive prevention approaches.
Conclusion:
Perioperative pressure injury prevention research is evolving towards predictive, interdisciplinary, and technology-assisted prevention systems, with direct implications for perioperative teams in preoperative assessment, intraoperative positioning, and postoperative monitoring.