Payne, SA (Payne, S. A.); Turner, JM (Turner, J. M.) Research methodologies in palliative care: a bibliometric analysis PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 22 (4): 336-342 JUN 2008

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: s.a.payne at lancaster.ac.uk 

Author(s): Payne, SA (Payne, S. A.); Turner, JM (Turner, J. M.) 

Title: Research methodologies in palliative care: a bibliometric analysis 

Source: PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 22 (4): 336-342 JUN 2008  

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Author Keywords: methodology; palliative care; research; research design 

Keywords Plus: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 

Abstract: The aspiration to design and conduct high-quality research in 
palliative care has been an important but elusive goal. The article 
evaluates the nature of research methodologies presented in published 
research within the broad remit of palliative care. A systematic search of 
the Medline database between 1997 and 2006, using the keywords 'palliative 
care' or 'end-of-life care' and 'research methodology', identified over 
318 publications. A bibliometric analysis indicates an incremental 
increase in published outputs per year, from 27 countries, with articles 
widely distributed across 108 journals. The heterogeneity of the research 
methodologies and the journals publishing them, present challenges in 
defining what constitutes 'high quality'. We argue that although this 
diversity leads to a lack of coherence for a single disciplinary paradigm 
for palliative care, there is a greater acknowledgement of the differing 
epistemological and theoretical frameworks used by researchers. This could 
be regarded as enriching our understanding of what it means to be dying in 
contemporary society. 

Addresses: Univ Lancaster, Int Observ End Life Care, Inst Hlth Res, 
Lancaster LA1 4YT, England
 
Reprint Address: Payne, SA, Univ Lancaster, Int Observ End Life Care, Inst 
Hlth Res, Bowland Tower E, Lancaster LA1 4YT, England. 

E-mail Address: s.a.payne at lancaster.ac.uk 

Cited Reference Count: 29 

Times Cited: 0 

Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD 

Publisher Address: 1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND 

ISSN: 0269-2163 

29-char Source Abbrev.: PALLIATIVE MED 

ISO Source Abbrev.: Palliat. Med.
 
Source Item Page Count: 7 

Subject Category: Health Care Sciences & Services; Public, Environmental & 
Occupational Health; 
Medicine, General & Internal 

ISI Document Delivery No.: 310ZQ 

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