Mapping the Crisis and the Conversation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Growth, Centralization, and Thematic Focus in Clinician Wellness and Burnout Research (1989–2025)

Clinician wellness and burnout have become critical concerns due to their impact on healthcare quality, workforce sustainability, and patient safety. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and Scientometric analysis of research on clinician wellness and burnout, spanning 1889 to 2025. A total of 159 documents retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection were analysed, authored by 1,218 contributors, including 13 single-authored publications. The field demonstrates an annual growth rate of 9.23%, with an average of 5.66 co-authors per document and an international co-authorship rate of 10.08%, reflecting both collaborative engagement and the potential for increased cross-border research integration.The dataset comprises 490 author keywords and 6,723 references, indicating the interdisciplinary nature of the field. Documents have an average age of 4.86 years and receive an average of 68.1 citations per publication, highlighting their scholarly impact. Data were analysed using R (Bibliometrix) and VOSviewer to examine publication trends, citation performance, collaborative networks, and thematic evolution. Findings reveal a progression from early studies on occupational stress to contemporary focuses on resilience, mindfulness, psychological safety, and organizational interventions. Source, author, and institutional analyses identify the primary publication outlets and influential contributors shaping the field, while network-based analyses illuminate intellectual linkages and collaborative structures.Overall, this study provides a data-driven overview of the growth, impact, and thematic development of clinician wellness and burnout research. By integrating quantitative metrics with network and thematic mapping, the analysis offers valuable insights for researchers, healthcare policymakers, and institutions aiming to advance evidence-based strategies to support clinician well-being and optimize healthcare delivery globally.