Bibliometric overview of virtual reality in health in the Latin American and Caribbean region
Keywords:
Bibliometrics, Caribbean Region, Latin America, Scientific production, Virtual RealityAbstract
Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology with growing applications in healthcare, facilitating diagnosis, treatment, and medical training. In Latin America and the Caribbean, its development is challenged by socioeconomic and technological factors that affect scientific production and clinical impact. Objective: To describe the scientific production on virtual reality applied to health in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Methods: A descriptive bibliometric study was conducted using the LILACS database to retrieve publications from 1994 to 2024. Original articles, reviews, and scientific reports in Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French were included. Variables such as year, country, language, and publication type were analyzed using bibliometric and statistical software. Results: A total of 519 publications were identified. Production was low and stable until 2009 (average 2.8 per year), followed by sustained and accelerated growth from 2010, with an average of 38.3 publications per year. Brazil led the production (52.2%), followed by Colombia, Cuba, Chile, and Argentina. Publications were mostly in Spanish (41.4%), Portuguese (32.2%), and English (26.2%). Most documents were peer reviewed original scientific articles (96.1%). Conclusions: Scientific production on VR in health in Latin America and the Caribbean is in a consolidation phase, with geographic and linguistic concentration reflecting regional inequalities. These findings provide a basis to guide policies and strengthen research and collaboration in the region.
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