Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine

The study of scientific output in the humanities plays a crucial role in the scientific and cultural development of society. The main objective of this applied, descriptive research was to evaluate articles related to medical history in Iranian humanities journals published between 2001 and 2021 AD (1380 to 1400 SH). Using a quantitative content analysis method, 256 articles from 40 reputable journals were identified and analyzed. The findings indicate an increasing trend in the quantitative production of scientific output in the field of medical history over the past two decades. The most prevalent thematic areas were "health, hygiene, and nutrition" and "medical concepts, types of diseases, and treatment methods." Journal for the History of Science was the most prolific publication. The majority of articles were written in Persian and focused on the Islamic and Qajar periods. The keywords "Iran," "Reza Shah," and "famine" were the most frequently used. Conversely, researchers paid less attention to topics such as medicine in travelogues, medical ethics, women's medicine, and veterinary medicine. Similarly, historical periods like the Buyid, Seljuk, Zand, Afsharid, and contemporary (post-Islamic Revolution) eras received less scholarly focus. This study demonstrates that the scientific output in Iranian medical history has formed an evolving indigenous pattern, concentrated on the Islamic and Qajar periods and health-related topics. However, there is a clear need to address neglected periods and foster interdisciplinary approaches.