Academic and societal impact of cancer pain research: a bibliometric and Altmetric Analysis.

Cancer-related pain affects quality of life despite advancements in management. Bibliometric and altmetric analyses provide insights into the academic and societal impact of research. This study analyzed the top 100 most-cited articles on cancer-related pain using bibliometric and altmetric indicators, exploring correlations between altmetric scores, citations per year, and total citations. A search of the Web of Science Core Collection database was conducted on 2 November 2024, to identify articles related to cancer pain published between 1975 and 2024. The top 100 most-cited articles were selected based on total citation counts. Only English-language articles with full-text access were included. Bibliometric data were collected. Altmetric scores were retrieved using the Altmetric Explorer platform, and correlations were assessed using Spearman's test. The 100 most-cited articles appeared in 35 journals, with PAIN contributing the most (n = 19). Total citations and citations per year showed a strong correlation (r = 0.64), but the correlation between altmetric scores and total citations was weak (r = 0.18). This study highlights the academic and societal impact of cancer pain research. The weak correlation between citations and altmetric scores suggests a need for better dissemination strategies to enhance public engagement.