Bibliometric analysis of home enteral nutrition in China

Abstract

Objective To analyze the current status of studies related to home enteral nutrition (HEN) in China, and provide scientific basis for the research and management of HEN in China. Methods We searched CNKI and WanFang Data since it built to January 1st, 2018. The included studies were screened and categorized by publication information, study type, subjects of the study, topic, interventions and outcomes. Descriptive analysis was conducted after extraction of information. Results A total of 153 studies were included, of which 37 were observational studies, 102 were experimental studies, 12 were case report, and 2 were exploring articles. Since 2012, the number of studies has been increasing. Most of the subjects were elderly people who were diagnosed with diseases of digestive system, head and neck tumors and diseases of nervous system. These studies were featured as small sample size and short intervention time, follow-ups by telephone and home visit, less than 1/4 providing professional nutrition support team, and outcomes mainly as complication, nutritional biochemical indices, anthropometric indices and prognosis. Conclusion HEN in China is still in its infancy. The number of relative studies is still small and quality of literatures is very low, but it has been increasing. At present, there are some problems in the implementation of HEN in China, such as lack of standardized management model and professional team, short-term intervention, and single follow-up mode. The elderly and patients with digestive disease, head and neck tumors and nervous disease are the key subjects; more professional nutrition support team and scientific management model should be established in the future. Key words: Home enteral nutrition; Bibliometric analysis