Work

A bibliometric analysis of research on the learning environment in medical schools: trends, gaps, and global perspectives

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: The learning environment (LE) is widely recognized as a key focus of medical education scholarship, influencing student motivation, academic performance, professional identity formation, and wellbeing. Despite its recognized importance, a global, comprehensive understanding of research trends, key contributors, and thematic evolution within medical school learning environment (MSLE) research remains limited. Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of 3,458 publications on MSLE published between 2000 to 2025, sourced from Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The Bibliometrix R package was used for network visualization and bibliometric analyses, examining publication trends, leading countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords. Keyword co-occurrence and thematic mapping was used to explore major research themes and their evolution over time. Results: MSLE research has expanded steadily over the past two decades, with contributions from diverse global regions. Leading institutions and journals continue to anchor the field, while emerging topics such as program evaluation, digital pedagogy, and student wellbeing reflect shifting scholarly priorities in medical education. Prominent keyword clusters relate to curriculum, medical education, medical student, learning environment, and perception, demonstrating a balance between foundational and specialized research. Thematic mapping identified central, well-developed domains such as professionalism and program evaluation, alongside emerging and niche topics like online learning and simulation, highlighting both ongoing maturation and diversification of the field. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides a structured overview of global MSLE research, illustrating publication trends, influential contributors, and evolving thematic priorities. The findings indicate that the learning environment has become a central focus of medical education research and highlight the need for greater emphasis on longitudinal, multi-institutional studies, international collaboration, and inclusion of underrepresented regions to inform future research and policy development.

Source: Frontiers in Medicine

DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1760995