Content analysis of articles in the field of history of medicine in the Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine

Background and aim: Scientific journals play a crucial role in the dissemination of scientific and technical information. Given the key role of the Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine as a specialized publication in the field of history of medicine in Iran, and the lack of a comprehensive study analyzing its content, this research aims to examine articles in the field of history of medicine in this journal. Materials and methods: This research was conducted based on survey method and content analysis (quantitative approach). The statistical population of this study includes all indexed articles in the Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine in the field of the history of medicine between 2008 and 2022. Findings: The research findings indicate that out of 751 published articles, 134 were related to the history of medicine, authored by 307 writers. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan University, and Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were the most productive academic centers. In terms of article type, review articles (61.94%), research articles (29.85%), and viewpoints (4.47%) had the highest representation, respectively. The most frequently recurring keywords were 'medical ethics, medicine, traditional medicine, Islam, and history of medicine'. A review of the thematic orientation of the articles showed that the largest number of articles were related to the topics of "medical ethics", "medicine in religions", and "biographies of doctors and scientists". Conclusion: Considering the aim of the present study, the results showed that this journal plays a significant role in the publication and promotion of research in this field. However, in order to improve the quality of medical history research, more attention should be paid to thematic diversity and the strengthening of international collaborations.