Journal of Health Literacy

Journal of Health Literacy

Health Literacy Research Mapping in Iran: ISC Database Evidence

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Saleh Rahimi
Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
10.22038/jhl.2026.96166.1979
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand the trends in the field of health literacy within the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) database between 2007 and 2024 and to identify the important sub-fields and dimensions of the health literacy concept.

Materials and Methods: This research used bibliometric techniques and co-word analysis. A total of 385 documents were extracted from the ISC database to identify the trends in health literacy-related research. Data processing and network mapping were performed using BibExcel, VOSviewer, and UCINET software. Cluster analysis and strategic diagrams were employed to map the conceptual structure of the studies and identify sub-fields and their interrelationships within this domain.

Results: The findings reveal the existence of ten clusters in this field: (1) Information and media literacy, and the role of libraries in public health; (2) Psychometrics and the validation of health literacy assessment tools; (3) Health literacy, self-care, and quality of life; (4) Lifestyle and coping with diseases; (5) Oral and dental health literacy; (6) Patient e-health literacy; (7) Education and health-promoting behaviors; (8) Educational interventions and preventive behaviors; (9) The health status of women and the older adults; and (10) Diabetes, attitudes, and marital satisfaction.

Conclusion: Through the structural analysis of the articles, emerging topics in health literacy, such as patient e-health literacy and Information and media literacy, and the role of libraries in public health, were identified. The results of this study can serve as a practical roadmap for researchers to enter novel areas within the health literacy domain. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive perspective on the paradigm shifts within health knowledge.
Keywords
Health Literacy
Health Promotion
Health-Oriented Behaviors
Co-word Analysis
ISC Database

Acknowledgements: The author would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Editor-in-Chief, the executive team, and the reviewers for their invaluable management, constructive feedback, and dedicated efforts that significantly enhanced the quality of this manuscript.


Availability of data and materials: The data of study are available upon reasonable request.


Conflicts of interest: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest in this article. 


Consent for publication: Not applicable.


Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: This study was a bibliometric analysis based on publicly available secondary data extracted from the ISC database and did not involve human or animal subjects. Therefore, ethical approval and informed consent to participate were not required.


Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.


Authors’ Contributions: Rahimi is responsible for all stages of the research, including conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.

 

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Journal of Health Literacy

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 August 2026