International trends and key contributors in dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation research: a 25-year bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background: Dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) has become a vital intervention for improving the survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Despite its importance, the DA-CPR research landscape has not been comprehensively analyzed. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of DA-CPR research published from 2000 to 2024 and to identify trends, key contributors, and international collaborations, mapping the global scientific landscape and highlighting areas for further investigation.

Methods: A retrospective bibliometric analysis was conducted using data from the Scopus database. Articles and reviews published from 2000 to 2024 were included. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer to assess publication trends, geographic distribution, influential authors, journals, and keyword co-occurrence.

Results: A total of 375 publications were identified, with a significant increase in research output since 2014. The United States, South Korea, Germany, Japan, and China were the leading countries in DA-CPR research, whereas contributions from developing regions were nearly nonexistent. Resuscitation emerged as the leading journal publishing the majority of DA-CPR-related articles. Keyword analysis identified 486 unique terms, with “cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” “out-of-hospital cardiac arrest,” and “emergency medical services” being the most frequently used terms, underscoring the central themes in DA-CPR research. Additionally, terms such as “dispatcher-assisted CPR,” “bystander,” and “telephone CPR” highlighted the focus on the critical roles involved in the DA-CPR process.

Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis highlighted the consistent growth in DA-CPR research, with increasing international collaboration and scientific output from North America, Asia, and Europe. Nonetheless, the lack of studies in developing countries underscores the urgent need to expand DA-CPR initiatives and global research efforts to improve cardiac arrest survival outcomes.

Keywords

Bibliometric analysis / Cardiopulmonary resuscitation / Dispatcher-assisted CPR / Emergency medical communication center / Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Imbriaco G and Ramacciati N designed the study, collected the data, performed the analyses, interpreted the results, and drafted and re-fined the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Funding

None.

Ethical approval of studies and informed consent

Not applicable.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Federico Semeraro, MD, FERC, for providing support in reviewing the manuscript for English gram-mar, style, and clarity.

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