Physical activity and RE-AIM framework: a bibliometric analysis of scientific production in the Web Of Science

Atividade Física e estrutura RE-AIM: uma análise bibliométrica da produção científica na Web Of Science

Objective:  This s tudy u tilized a b ibliometric a nalysis using t he Web o f S cience d atabase a imed t o analyze academic trends related to the intersection between the RE-AIM framework and physical activity (PA).

Methods:  Bibliometric productivity indicators included publication patterns, chronological distribution of annual publications, identification of the most relevant journals, the most prolific and cited authors, the most cited documents, as well as network visualization for co-authorship, international collaboration, and co-occurrence of author keywords. The search was conducted in April 2024 using the controlled descriptors “RE-AIM” AND (“physical activity” OR “physical exercise” OR “motor activity”).

Results:  A total of 353 articles were included for analysis. Articles were published between 2002 and 2024, distributed across 122 journals. The annual growth rate of articles was 7.6%, with an average of 24.53 citations. The most prolific institutions and authors were from the United States, Australia, and Canada. Factor analysis of keywords indicated the presence of a main cluster encompassing themes such as PA interventions, the impact of the RE-AIM framework, health, exercise, implementation, and health promotion across various population contexts. There was a predominance of studies conducted in the United States, followed by Australia and Canada, with a growing contribution from countries such as Brazil.

Conclusion:  This synthesis providedan overview of the global application of the RE-AIM framework in the context of PA. However, further research is suggested to explore the applicability and relationship of this tool in evaluating PA interventions in diverse socio-cultural contexts, including low and middle-income countries.

Keywords:
Physical exercise; Effectiveness-Efficacy evaluation of interventions; Review literature as topic.