Tracing the Evolution of Research on Breaking Bad News: A Global Analysis of Publications

Abstract

Background: Breaking bad news (BBN) is an essential part of healthcare communication especially in the fields of oncology. palliative care and life threatening illness. Objective: This study aims to analyze the global research trends, publication patterns and the intellectual structure of BBN literature from 2000 to 2025. Methods: Bibliometric study was performed on Scopus database. A total of 843 publications were retrieved and analyzed by bibliometric techniques. Visualization tools such as VOSviewer and R Studio were employed, along with Lotkas and Bradford laws. Results: The findings indicate that there is a steady growth of publications. The United States emerged as the leading contributor. Journals including Patient Education and Counseling were dominant in the field. Key areas of focus identified through thematic analysis included oncology, palliative care and communication, while emerging themes included empathy and telemedicine. Conclusion: BBN research has evolved into a mature, interdisciplinary field with increasing emphasis on patient centered communication.