Methods:
A bibliometric analysis is well-suited to exploring our research
questions. We used relational content analysis, supported by time series
analysis and qualitative content analysis, to conduct a scientometric
study13of all scientific citations of Portenoy and Foley’s 1986 article (the
index study). The scientometric portion of our study aimed to
quantitatively identify specific trends presented by the citing sources,
allowing us to address our question regarding the impact of the 1986
study on subsequent scientific literature. We conducted a relational
content analysis to synthesize quantitative and qualitative data, as
well as to explore complex models in the development of historical
scientific and medical thought.