Emerging Research Trends on Medication Adherence in Tuberculosis Treatment: A Bibliometric Study of Research Between 2015 and 2024 to Inform Future Research Trajectory

Introduction: Current knowledge regarding tuberculosis (TB) medication adherence largely stems from scientific publications. However, to date, the volume and characteristics of studies specifically focused on TB medication adherence in Southeast Asia have not yet been systematically assessed. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on medication adherence in TB treatment within this region. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database to identify research articles related to medication adherence in TB treatment in Southeast Asia, published in English between 2015 and 2024. The analysis included the number of publication trends, country of origin, citation metrics, co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and the most frequently cited documents. Results: A total of 146 journal articles were retrieved. Indonesia emerged as the most prolific contributor and demonstrated strong international collaboration. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed four major research themes: (1) clinical and demographic characteristics, (2) pharmacological management and disease burden, (3) socio-behavioral factors related to adherence, and (4) digital health-based treatment evaluation. Burst analysis of reference and keyword highlighted emerging research trends, particularly in primary-community based care and digital health interventions, indicating potential trajectories for future research in TB medication adherence. Conclusion: This study provided an overview of the evolving research landscape on TB medication adherence in Southeast Asia. These findings highlight the growing emphasis on primary-community based care and digital health interventions, pointing toward shaping future research and practice. © 2025 Maulana et al.