Utilization of electrodermal activity in nursing research: A mapping review

Electrodermal activity (EDA) reflects sympathetic nervous system activity related to emotions and cognition. This mapping review aimed to systematically identify and map existing nursing research that utilized EDA and examine future research prospects.

We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycArticles, Cochrane Collection Plus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Ichushi-Web, CiNii Research, and Current Index to Japanese Nursing Literature without year limits. Inclusion criteria were EDA use, nursing research, human participants, and English or Japanese publications. Data were visualized to provide a comprehensive overview of EDA research in nursing and inform prospective research directions.

Overall, 91 articles were included; most were primary research (n = 89) that mainly comprised intervention studies (n = 74). Studies involving healthy adults were common (n = 27), whereas those involving people with health impairments, infants and children, and older adults were limited. "Skin conductance" was the most frequently used term (n = 60), and the common measurement site was the finger or palm (n = 44). EDA was primarily used to measure psychological burden (n = 32) and physical responses (n = 27). Key phenomena included emotional arousal stimuli (n = 26) and complementary and alternative medicine (n = 22). Multiple demographic and physiological data and various scales were also examined.

In nursing research, EDA is used in intervention studies with healthy adults across multiple countries. Future research should include people with health impairments, apply EDA in personalized care, and explore its application in nursing staff stress management.