Insights into Research on the Greater Mekong Subregion During the Past Two Decades: A Bibliometric Study of Scopus-Indexed Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/jiskku.2025.1Keywords:
Greater Mekong Subregion, Bibliometric analysis, Research trends, Biblioshiny, VOSviewerAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to analyze research trends in the Greater Mekong Subregion over the past two decades. It focused on counting the number of articles published across different countries and journals in the Scopus database, and identifying key research areas and trends in the region between 1997 and 2022.
Methodology: The researchers analyzed 517 publications from 1997 to 2022 within the domain of science, health sciences and social sciences, using data from the Scopus database in CSV, BibTex, and RIS formats. Microsoft Excel was used for data cleaning and visualization, while VOSviewer and Biblioshiny were employed for advanced bibliometric analysis, including the creation of visualized knowledge maps to explore publication trends and research clusters.
Findings: The study revealed that most documents published on Scopus in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) belong to the health sciences. Accordingly, Mahidol University was the top contributor to Greater Mekong Subregion research, with medical topics being the most published. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded 50 papers, while malaria and epidemiology dominated research between 2016 and 2022. Key terms included "plasmodium" and "public health," and the most cited work was a 2014 study on malaria resistance.
Applications of this study: This study is useful for researchers, policymakers, and institutions in the Greater Mekong Subregion to highlight important research trends and guide future funding and research efforts, particularly in areas like malaria and epidemiology. The data can also support the development of healthcare policies, strengthen public health interventions, and foster collaboration across academic and medical disciplines. In addition, bibliometric analysis techniques are beneficial for stakeholders in analyzing future research trends across different countries, helping to establish cooperative strategies in various fields.
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