MAPPING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW

Abstract

Employee engagement has emerged as a critical factor influencing organizational performance, employee well-being, and patient outcomes in the healthcare sector. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research mapping the development and trends of employee engagement studies in healthcare. This study addresses this gap through a bibliometric review of scholarly literature published between 2001 and 2024. The findings indicate a consistent growth in publications on employee engagement, particularly during the last decade. Many highly cited and influential studies were published around the middle of the previous decade, while recent studies have had less time to accumulate citations. Geographically, Europe produced the largest share of influential research, followed by the United States. Using bibliometric coupling, the study identified seven major themes in healthcare employee engagement research. Overall, this bibliometric review provides a comprehensive understanding of the development, key trends, influential research, and existing gaps in the field. The findings can support researchers, healthcare organizations, and policymakers in developing strategies to strengthen employee engagement, improve employee well-being and productivity, enhance organizational performance, and ultimately contribute to better patient outcomes.