Visualization Analysis of Research on Unaccompanied Wards in China Based on CiteSpace

Objective: Visualization analysis of domestic literature related to unaccompanied wards was performed by CiteSpace, so that the research status, core authors, high-yield institutions, research hotspots, and evolutionary trends in this field could be systematically elucidated, and evidence-based references could be provided for nursing management and clinical practice. Methods: CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM databases were searched from their inception to April 22, 2026. The exact search strategy for each database was as follows (Chinese original terms): (无人陪护病房 OR 零陪护病房 OR 无人陪护护理 OR 零陪护护理 OR 无陪护病房 OR 无陪护护理). Searches were conducted in the “topic” field (including title, abstract, and keywords), with no additional language or document type limits applied at the database level. Co-occurrence, clustering, and burst detection analyses of annual publications, authors, institutions, and keywords were conducted using CiteSpace 6.4.R1. Results: A total of 769 eligible articles were included. Literature screening was independently performed by two reviewers; disagreements were resolved through consensus discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. Core authors were identified as Xu Cuiping, Chu Liangliang, and others, among whom close intra-team collaboration was observed whereas cross-institutional cooperation was insufficient. High-yield institutions were mostly distributed in medical centers of Shandong Province. High-frequency keywords included unaccompanied nursing, nursing quality, elderly patients, and nosocomial infection, and 10 core research clusters were generated. Records from 2026 were partially indexed at retrieval, so the rapid growth stage (2020-2026) should be interpreted with caution, as the incomplete 2026 data may inflate the most recent trend. Research hotspots were gradually transformed from early nursing models and basic care to nursing satisfaction, care quality, and long-term inpatient care. Conclusion: Research on unaccompanied wards in China has evolved from pilot exploration to large-scale promotion and quality-oriented improvement, with focuses on nursing management, care delivery models, and safety experience. Nevertheless, challenges including inadequate cross-regional collaboration and incomplete standard systems remain to be addressed. Future studies are expected to strengthen multi-center cooperation, refine care protocols, and deepen mechanism research, thereby facilitating high-quality development of the industry.