Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Studies on OSCE in Dental Education

Objective: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in dental education to evaluate global trends and academic productivity. It investigates the distribution of scientific output, the most prolific institutions, authors, and journals, along with the most frequently used keywords and highly cited publications. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science database using the keywords “OSCE” and “Dental Education.” Bibliometric data were retrieved using the “Analyze Results” and “Citation Analysis” tools. Co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence networks were visualized with VOSviewer software. The number of publications, distribution by country and institution, citation counts, and keyword frequency were analyzed. Results: A total of 112 publications were included. The leading countries were the USA, UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Scotland. Harvard University and the University of London were the most productive institutions. Most OSCE-related articles were published in the European Journal of Dental Education and the Journal of Dental Education. Besides “OSCE” and “Dental Education,” common keywords included “assessment,” “objective structured clinical examination,” and “dental students.” The most cited paper was a 2008 review on predoctoral education practices. Conclusion: This study offers a comprehensive overview of OSCE-related literature in dental education. It helps identify research trends, key contributors, and potential gaps, providing valuable insights for ongoing academic development and evidence-based education. Bibliometric Analysis, Dental Education, Objective Structured Clinical Examination