Mapping Global Research Trends on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Fishermen: A Bibliometric Analysis from a Behavioral Perspective

Abstract

Abstract
This study aims to map the development and scientific trends on the topic of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among fishermen, with a particular focus on behavioral perspectives, using a bibliometric analysis approach. The analysis was conducted on 1,000 scientific publications indexed between 2021 and 2025, using data from Crossref and Publish or Perish. Bibliometric methods were employed to identify publication trends, prolific authors, leading journals, major publishers, document types, thematic keywords, and patterns of author collaboration.

The findings indicate that although NIHL has been widely studied, research has predominantly concentrated on medical approaches and formal sector contexts such as industry and the military. In contrast, behavioral dimensions and occupational contexts specific to fishermen remain underexplored. The study also found that most publications were featured in specialist audiology journals managed by major publishers such as Elsevier and Springer. Keyword analysis revealed the dominance of medical and technical themes, with limited representation of social and behavioral research topics.

This study concludes that there is a significant gap in the global literature regarding NIHL in fishermen, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate behavioral work perspectives. The findings serve as an initial contribution toward strengthening context-specific and community-based approaches in the study of hearing disorders caused by occupational noise exposure.

Keywords:noise-induced hearing loss, fishermen, work behavior, bibliometric analysis, occupational health, scientific publications