Research status and prospect of the application of artificial intelligence in the acupuncture and moxibustion field based on bibliometric

Abstract

To explore the research hotspot, development trend and existing problem of artificial intelligence (AI) application in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion by using bibliometric method. Relevant articles of AI application in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion published in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science from the database establishment to September 17, 2023 were searched. Excel 2019, CiteSpace 6.2.R4 and VOSviewer 1.6.19 were used to draw visual map of the number of publication, authors, research institutions and keywords, and further analyzed the research hotspot and trend. A total of 443 Chinese articles and 68 English articles were included. The number of annual publication of Chinese articles showed an overall increasing trend, while the number of publication of English articles was less, with a growing trend from 2020. Keywords analysis showed that "Machine learning", "neural network", "deep learning", "data mining", "robot" and other AI technologies were developing around acupuncture and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment of disease, efficacy prediction, teaching and intelligent equipment development. However, the research on the application of AI in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion is in the preliminary stage of development, and in the future, it is necessary to strengthen the communication and cooperation among the teams, to further explore the AI system in line with the characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment, and to promote the development of the digitalisation, intellectualisation and industrialisation of acupuncture and moxibustion.