Thematic Map Analysis of Informal Payments in Health

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the themes of research on informal payments in healthcare. A search was conducted on the Web of Science database using the keywords "informal payment" and "health" with the "topic" option, covering the period from January 1, 1997, to June 3, 2023. A total of 324 publications were analyzed. Thematic maps and thematic evolutions were examined using the bibliometrix package in the R program for data analysis.The analysis revealed the following main themes and keywords: informal payments, health services, change, equity, impact, out-of-pocket payment as the motor themes and plus keywords. The author keywords included maternal health, quality care, India, Iran, healthcare system, and healthcare expenditures. The title keywords consisted of health, care, and evidence. The abstract keywords comprised health, services, and system.Researchers interested in conducting studies on informal payments in healthcare can explore the motor themes for understanding the most important patterns in the field. Those interested in working in niche areas can focus on the niche themes. Researchers looking to explore new and current topics can analyze the decreasing or emerging themes. Lastly, those wishing to concentrate on the essence of the research can examine the core themes.