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.