The use of the timing it right framework in research: A bibliometric review of 2008-2024.

OBJECTIVES: The Timing it Right (TIR) Framework was developed to understand the support needs of family caregivers to people with stroke across illness trajectories. This bibliometric review explored how TIR has been cited in the literature, including populations studied, geographic distribution, and its use in research. METHODS: A descriptive bibliometric review of peer-reviewed articles citing the 2008 TIR publication was conducted. Articles from three databases were screened by two reviewers. Quantitative data were summarized and qualitative data analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 217 studies from over 30 countries and 20 languages were identified with the number of publications per year steadily increasing. Research participants included caregivers only (47%), patients only (22%), patients and caregivers (28%), and health care professionals (3%). Half of the studies were specific to stroke, the other half expanded to other conditions including aging, chronic illness, spinal cord injury, dementia, cancer, and acute medical issues. Study designs included qualitative (44%), reviews (18%), and quantitative (38%). TIR was included in introduction and discussion sections (81%) to frame changing experiences and support needs across illness trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: This framework has been used beyond its initial focus on stroke caregivers to include patients, various clinical populations, and in research applying various methodological approaches. The TIR framework can be used as a lens to explore and address changes in experiences and needs in patients, caregivers, and health care professionals from a variety of clinical care contexts across illness trajectories.