From Silence to Surge: Nursing Home Research in Ireland Before and After the Pandemic

Abstract Background Nursing home residents in Ireland experienced a disproportionate burden of illness and death during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting longstanding systemic deficiencies in governance, staffing, and research engagement. Prior to the pandemic, this vulnerable population, characterised by high levels of multimorbidity and disability, received limited research attention. A subgroup from the National Clinical Programme for Older People recommended the development of a research agenda in nursing homes, including resident involvement. This study aimed to characterise the extent and nature of Irish nursing home research from 1966 to 2024. Methods A bibliometric review was conducted using PubMed to identify publications related to Irish nursing homes from January 1966 to March 2020 (pre-pandemic) and April 2020 to July 2024 (post-pandemic). Data extracted included publication type, number of authors, institutional affiliations, countries of origin, disciplines involved, and acknowledgement of nursing home staff or residents. Descriptive analysis was performed using Excel and SPSS. Results A total of 144 publications were identified. Most papers (n=106; 73.6%) were published pre-pandemic, while 38 (26.4%) appeared in the shorter post-pandemic period, showing a substantial increase in publication rate (1.9 to 9.5/year). Original research comprised 81.3% of papers. Interdisciplinary authorship was common, yet only 12.5% of papers listed a nursing home as an author affiliation—primarily from public or voluntary sectors. Less than 40% of papers acknowledged staff or resident contributions. While COVID-19-focused publications increased markedly post-2020, broader topics in nursing home care remained underrepresented. Conclusion Despite increased research activity during the pandemic, engagement with nursing home research in Ireland remains limited, especially from the private sector. The lack of consistent stakeholder involvement and sustained research investment signals a need for a national strategy. Key priorities include implementing the interRAI tool, improving professional engagement, and enhancing research funding to ensure evidence-based policy and care for nursing home residents.