Aromatherapy Combined With Other Non-Pharmacological Interventions: A Systematic Evidence Map

Abstract

This evidence map aims to systematically identify, appraise, and visualize the evidence on aromatherapy–art integration interventions for adult palliative care patients. Although aromatherapy and art therapy show potential in symptom management, evidence on their active integration remains unmapped. Following PRISMA-ScR, PRITEM, Campbell EGM, and JBI methodology, we will search PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, and gray literature from 2000 to 2025. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract data. A matrix of integration type (aromatherapy combined with visual art, music, VR/digital art, multimodal art, expressive arts, or mind-body therapies) by outcome domain (pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, dyspnea, sleep, quality of life, spiritual well-being) will be constructed. Evidence will be visualized using EPPI-Mapper, Kumu, or Stata heatmaps, stratified by quality. Risk of bias will be assessed with RoB 2, ROBINS-I, JBI, AMSTAR-2, CERQual, and GRADE. Expected outcomes include an interactive evidence map, gap analysis table, and future research agenda, informing palliative care teams, guideline developers, and researchers about evidence distribution and priority directions.