Mapping Global Research Trends and Emerging Gaps in Dysmenorrhea and Thermotherapy: A Bibliometric Analysis of Wearable Comfort-Based Interventions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i5.2429Keywords:
: bibliometric analysis, dysmenorrhea, thermotherapy, wearable technology, women’s healthAbstract
Dysmenorrhea is a common reproductive health problem that adversely affects women’s quality of life, daily activities, and productivity. Although pharmacological treatment remains the dominant management approach, interest in non-pharmacological interventions, including thermotherapy, has increased. This study aimed to map global research trends, thematic development, and emerging gaps in dysmenorrhea and thermotherapy research using a bibliometric approach. Publications were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and PoPCites Crossref using predefined search terms. English-language publications from 2005 to 2026 were screened using the PRISMA framework. Of 2,207 identified records, 127 articles met the eligibility criteria and were analysed using publication trend, citation, co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, network, overlay, and density analyses in VOSviewer. The findings showed growing research attention, particularly in recent years. Dominant themes included pain, drug therapy, quality of life, women’s health, and endometriosis, whereas comfort-based care, wearable thermotherapy, self-management, and nursing interventions remained underrepresented. This study contributes to the scientific literature by identifying an important research gap and highlighting wearable thermotherapy as a promising patient-centred, non-pharmacological intervention for menstrual pain management and future nursing research.
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