Febrile Neutropenia as an Oncological Emergency: A Bibliometric Analysis of Nursing Care and Management Research Trends From 2000 to 2025.

INTRODUCTION

Febrile neutropenia is a life-threatening oncologic emergency requiring rapid recognition and intervention. In emergency departments, nurses are central to patient assessment, triage, and care coordination, yet the extent and focus of nursing-led research remain unclear. This study aimed to map global research trends in the nursing care and management of febrile neutropenia over a 25-year period.

METHODS

A descriptive bibliometric analysis was conducted on 347 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2025, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on October 5, 2025. Analyses in Bibliometrix (R/Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer examined publication trends, authorship, institutional output, international collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution.

RESULTS

Scientific production increased steadily from 2000, peaking in 2021. The United States contributed the most publications, followed by China, South Korea, and the UK. Febrile neutropenia, chemotherapy, and neutropenia were dominant themes, whereas nursing care, emergency nursing, and evidence-based practice appeared less frequently and in peripheral positions. Only 8.1% of publications appeared in nursing-classified journals, 6% involved nursing-affiliated authors, 4.3% were nurse-led, and 2.6% described specific nursing interventions. Over time, the focus shifted from infection control and pharmacologic management toward outpatient care, guideline implementation, and risk-adapted pathways.

DISCUSSION: Although nursing practice is critical to the management of febrile neutropenia, nursing-led research remains underrepresented, with most studies embedded in multidisciplinary frameworks. Future research should prioritize nursing-sensitive outcomes, implementation science approaches, and nurse-led models that strengthen patient safety, triage precision, and continuity of care.