Research Trends Surrounding the Challenges Faced by Health Personnel in Rural Contexts: A Bibliometric Approach

The challenges around healthcareHealthcare services in rural areas have been a growing concern for researchers and policymakers worldwide. Recent trends in researchResearch have focused on exploring the factors that contribute to the shortage of healthcare workers in rural areas and identifying effective strategies to recruit and retain healthcare professionals. Some of the key areas of focus include rural medical educationRural medical education, vocational trainingVocational training, and the developmentDevelopment of generalistGeneralist rural healthHealth pathways. This study employs bibliometric analysisBibliometric analysis to explore current research trends related to the challenges faced by healthHealth personnel in rural areas. A systematic literature reviewSystematic literature review was conducted using two prominent academic and scientific databases: Scopus and Web of Science, having a total of 107 articles selected for analysisAnalysis. The methodology followed the international PRISMA 2020 parameters. The results revealed that the most investigated topics were the shortage of personnel, access to healthcare servicesAccess to healthcare services, and the impact of isolationImpact of isolation on healthHealth workers. The analysisAnalysis also highlighted the need for further research on the role of technology and the effectiveness of interventionsIntervention aimed at addressing these challenges. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current stateStates of research in this area and identifies important avenues for future investigation, such as to better address the needs of rural healthHealth workers and professionals, particularly in low- and middle-incomeIncome countries.