Knowledge Management in Health Organizations: A Systematic Literature Review

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Pereira, N (Author) Other; Fernandes, C (Author) FEP

Journal

Title: JOURNAL OF THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

ISSN: 1868-7865

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-019-05S

DOI: 10.1007/s13132-025-02760-3

Abstract (EN): Knowledge management (KM) in healthcare is becoming increasingly important as it helps to address the challenges posed by rising healthcare costs and resource constraints. KM plays a key role in enabling healthcare organizations to deliver high-quality care while also containing costs. However, the fragmented nature of healthcare knowledge makes it challenging to manage effectively. Our work aims to explore the effectiveness of KM tools in healthcare organizations and their impact on KM practices in the healthcare sector. The study was conducted using the Web of Science (WoS) database and analyzed journal articles published from 1999 until October 6, 2023, from a total of 36 journals. A total of 69 articles were selected for analysis, and content analysis techniques were employed to identify the main research lines. This study shows that knowledge management (KM) tools, such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, blockchain, IoT, networks of practice, and electronic health record (EHR) systems, significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare organizations. The results reveal that KM in health organizations presents 5 clusters: (1) synergy, (2) digital transformation, (3) challenges, (4) human resources, and (5) social networks. The systematic analysis undertaken allowed the researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of the art in the KM in health organizations field, revealing a wide diversity of approaches and research trends. The study presents an integrative framework and a table with future research lines, detailed by cluster, which aim to enhance understanding and guide future studies in this area. This review makes notable contributions to the KM in health organizations literature by offering a comprehensive overview, extending previous theoretical-conceptual studies, examining the current state of KM aspects, and suggesting directions for future research. © The Author(s) 2025.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific