Academic and societal impact of cancer pain research: a bibliometric and Altmetric Analysis.

Background: Cancer-related pain affects quality of life despite advancements in management. Bibliometric and altmetric analyses provide insights into the academic and societal impact of research.

Objective: This study analyzed the top 100 most-cited articles on cancer-related pain using bibliometric and altmetric indicators, exploring correlations between altmetric scores, citations per year, and total citations.

Methods: A search of the Web of Science Core Collection database was conducted on 2 November 2024, to identify articles related to cancer pain published between 1975 and 2024. The top 100 most-cited articles were selected based on total citation counts. Only English-language articles with full-text access were included. Bibliometric data were collected. Altmetric scores were retrieved using the Altmetric Explorer platform, and correlations were assessed using Spearman's test.

Results: The 100 most-cited articles appeared in 35 journals, with PAIN contributing the most (n = 19). Total citations and citations per year showed a strong correlation (r = 0.64), but the correlation between altmetric scores and total citations was weak (r = 0.18).

Conclusion: This study highlights the academic and societal impact of cancer pain research. The weak correlation between citations and altmetric scores suggests a need for better dissemination strategies to enhance public engagement.