Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Professor, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
2
Assistant Prof., Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/ijism.2026.2047576.1660
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic represented a critical case for studying the rapid dynamics of research and its public dissemination during a global crisis. This study addresses the need for a comprehensive understanding of these changes by examining the thematic evolution of COVID-19 research and its social attention during the initial phase of the pandemic (2020–2021). A combined scientometric and Altmetric approach was utilized. Data, encompassing 16,422 articles indexed in PubMed and 1,751,396 social mentions (primarily from Twitter and news media) extracted via Altmetric.com, were analyzed. Keyword co-occurrence network analysis (using VOSviewer) and descriptive statistics were employed to identify thematic clusters, track their evolution, and measure the social reach of the publications. Findings revealed a significant shift in research priorities. Initially, the focus was concentrated on virology, clinical sciences, and public health. As the pandemic progressed, the thematic landscape broadened dramatically to encompass psychological, social, economic, and policy-related topics, signaling a shift from immediate biological concerns to broader societal impacts. Twitter emerged as the dominant dissemination channel, hosting the vast majority of social media mentions, underscoring its crucial role in health communication during the crisis. The network analysis confirmed these thematic shifts, highlighting the growing centrality of social science subjects over time. In conclusion, this thematic analysis serves as a predictive tool, illustrating how public health crises rapidly redefine research agendas, shifting them from fundamental medical science to interdisciplinary social issues. Policymakers and research managers can leverage these insights to establish interdisciplinary research strategies and enhance preparedness for future crises by anticipating the evolving socio-scientific needs.
Keywords
Subjects
