Exploring Safety Management Dimensions in Sports: Insights for Public Health and Policy from a Content Analysis of Top-Ranked Articles

Abstract

One of the core principles of sustainable development is public health, which encompasses coordinated efforts to prevent illness, promote well-being, and improve the overall quality of life at the population level. A comprehensive understanding of the various dimensions of health, combined with a structured analysis of the factors influencing it—particularly in areas such as sports and physical activity—can play a vital role in developing effective strategies for enhancing safety, mitigating risks, and advancing public health outcomes. Given the physically demanding nature of athletic activities and competitions, ensuring the health and safety of athletes is of paramount importance. The primary objective of this research is to identify the key dimensions of safety management in sports by studying and analyzing the top ten most reputable articles in this field, as indexed in the Scopus citation database. By highlighting essential principles and dimensions of safety management, this study aims to contribute to the advancement of athlete safety and health. To achieve this goal, 214 international articles published between 1993 and 2023 in the Scopus database were selected and analyzed through content analysis. Specialized software tools—including Publish or Perish, Excel, VOSviewer, RStudio, R, and Maxqda2020—were employed for searching, identifying, and evaluating elements related to safety management in sports. The results of the content analysis led to the identification of eight key dimensions that were consistently emphasized across the top ten articles: physical safety, medical safety, psychological safety, legal safety, tourist safety, education and training, risk management processes, and safety barriers. Focusing on these dimensions can significantly enhance safety measures and greatly reduce unforeseen risks in sports environments.