TITLE:
Bibliometric Analysis of the Application of the Behavior Change Wheel in the Medical Field
AUTHORS:
Ziqiang Song
KEYWORDS:
Behavior Change Wheel, COM-B Model, CiteSpace, Visual Analysis, Bibliometrics
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.16 No.11,
November
27,
2025
ABSTRACT: Objective: This study employs bibliometric analysis to examine the current state, popular topics, and trends in the application of the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) within the medical field, aiming to provide a reference framework for further research endeavors in this domain. Methods: The Web of Science core collection database was searched, and relevant literature was collected from March 29, 2024, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. CiteSpace was applied for visual analysis. Results: A total of 1000 articles were finally included, and the number of articles showed an upward trend year by year, reaching a peak in 2023. England, Australia, and the United States and their research institutions had the largest number of publications, but the overall cooperation between countries, institutions, and authors was relatively sparse. Behavior change, health promotion, digital health, mobile health, mental health, and qualitative research were the research hotspots, frontiers, and future directions. Conclusion: Current research on the application of the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) in the medical field lacks empirical evidence tailored to China’s unique national context. It is recommended that future studies integrate China-specific realities, designing intervention strategies that cater to the distinct characteristics of different population groups, thereby facilitating health behavior change and enhancing individual capacity for self-health management. Such efforts are poised to bolster the implementation of the “Healthy China” initiative.