Exploring patient’s role in telemedicine: A comparative bibliometric analysis across psychology and medicine

The role of telemedicine in healthcare management is expanding, emphasizing various forms of patient participation. Despite extensive scientific literature, consensus on the definition of active patient participation is lacking. This study explores the evolution of this concept and field-specific differences, comparing psychology with medicine. Using Bibliometrix software, a bibliometric analysis of 591 papers from WoS (320 in psychology, 271 in internal medicine) published from 1990 to 2023 examined terms related to patient participation in telemedicine (e.g., adherence, compliance, empowerment, activation, engagement). Terms related to patient participation are currently heterogeneous in both areas. A co-occurrence network reveals distinct conceptual structures; engagement and adherence are focal points in psychology and medicine, respectively. Patient-centered terms are increasing in both fields. This study delineates divergent terminologies across disciplines. Comparing psychology and internal medicine highlights telemedicine's interdisciplinary nature, necessitating collaborative efforts for its advancement. These findings lay the basis for improving evidence-based healthcare practices.