Mapping research trends in digital health technology for public services: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze global research trends, thematic developments, and collaborative networks in digital health technology applied to public services using a bibliometric approach.

Method: a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the PRISMA framework to systematically identify, screen, and analyze 34 relevant articles from Scopus published between 2017 and 2025, focusing on publication trends, subject areas, document types, country distribution, author collaborations, and thematic relationships in digital health technology for public services.

Findings: a significant upward trend in publications on digital health technology in public services, with Medicine as the dominant subject area, complemented by Social Sciences and Computer Science. Journal articles were the most common document type, while India and Finland were the leading contributors. Thematic and co-authorship analyses revealed strong interconnections between digitalization, healthcare, development, and population challenges, highlighting the interdisciplinary and global nature of research in this field.

Implications: successful digital transformation in public health services requires integrative strategies combining technological innovation, institutional readiness, policy support, and inclusive approaches to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and equity in healthcare delivery.

Originality: this study uniquely maps global research trends and collaborations in digital health technology for public services using a bibliometric approach.