Social Media-Based Cancer Education: Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Traditional education for patients with cancer faces challenges related to timeliness, accessibility, and a personalized approach. Social media has emerged as a novel platform for delivering cancer-related educational content, garnering growing academic interest. However, a comprehensive assessment of the current research landscape in this domain is lacking.

Objective: This study aimed to identify research hotspots; trace the evolution of social media-based education for patients with cancer; and map the leading journals, institutions, and international collaboration networks in this field.

Methods: A bibliometric and thematic analysis was conducted using tools, such as VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace, to examine articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2011 to 2025. The analysis explored publication trends, author and institutional collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, factor analysis, thematic clusters, and the evolution of disciplinary keyword categories.

Results: A total of 119 publications were retrieved. The Journal of Medical Internet Research was the most productive journal in this field, publishing 13 articles (10.9%). The University of Minnesota was the most productive institution, contributing 6 publications (5.0%). The United States accounted for the largest proportion of publications (56/119, 47.1%), with 5 of the top 10 institutions based in the country. The United States also led the international collaboration network. Keyword analysis identified key research hotspots, including platform-specific information dissemination, tailored educational interventions for diverse patient populations, efforts to enhance quality of life, and challenges related to health misinformation. Thematic evolution demonstrated a shift from basic information-seeking behaviors to broader topics such as digital health and health equity, indicating a multidimensional and interdisciplinary research trajectory.

Conclusions: This study represents the first bibliometric analysis of social media-based cancer education, providing actionable insights to inform digital health literacy strategies and advance patient-centered, equitable health care.