Initial validation of a virtual blood draw exposure paradigm for fear of blood and needles

Abstract

Fear of blood, injections, and needles commonly prevents or delays individuals' receipt of health care, such as vaccines or blood draws. Innovative methods are needed to overcome these fears and reduce anxiety related to activities of this nature. The present study describes initial testing of an arm illusion paradigm that may prove useful during early phases of graded exposure for people with blood and needle fear. Seventy-four undergraduate students aged 18-29 years were tested. In line with study aims, results indicated that the virtual blood draw paradigm promoted strong perceptions of arm ownership and elicited significant changes in physiological indices (blood pressure, heart rate, electrodermal activity, respiratory rate) in response to key procedure elements (e.g., needle insertion). Further, bivariate correlations indicated that individual differences in self-reported blood and needle fear collected prior to the illusion paradigm were significantly associated with presyncopal symptoms reported following the procedure. In regression analyses, self-reported measures of blood and needle fear explained unique variance in presyncopal symptoms even after controlling for general state anxiety. These findings provide initial support for the virtual blood draw paradigm as a promising tool to help provide graded exposure to medical procedures involving needles and blood draw.

Predicting vasovagal reactions to a virtual blood donation using facial image analysis

“…This is in line with the rationale that hyperventilation might contribute to anxious state development 38–41 . Furthermore, this corroborates the finding of Trost et al (2017), 25 who found an increase in the respiratory rate in this virtual blood donation paradigm. We aim to replicate this study with additional physiological measurements (including respiration) in order to further assess these associations.…”

“…Then, participants were exposed to the experiment; a virtual blood donation. This experiment is a virtual version of the Rubber Arm Illusion 25 and we repeat the experimental setup and stimuli from Trost et al (2017). 25 Finally, we asked participants to again rate their VVR responses and to complete a second questionnaire.…”

Inflammatory bowel disease patient perceptions of diagnostic and monitoring tests and procedures

“…The blood and stool tests are the tests/procedures for which explanations about their necessity are provided the least often. The use of blood tests is very common, especially for patients with chronic illnesses, but this test is linked to a fear of needles, which can have serious consequences leading to non-adherence and avoidance of health care [30]. The severe form of this fear is a phobia that is characterized by an intense and irrational fear of blood, needles, medical care and injuries [28].…”

“…Thus, the remaining patients refused the blood test for reasons other than those suggested in the questionnaire. It is therefore possible that the fear of needles and blood be the main reason for refusing to undergo the blood test [30]. It is also possible that general blood test have been already performed before the patient was referred to the gastroenterologist specialist, explaining that the patient refuse to do it again.…”

‘Pinholes in my arms’: the vicious cycle of vascular access

“…In a study by Robinson-Reilly, Paliadelis and Cruickshank (2016), participants explained that they had not been informed or prepared for how painful advancing a sharp-pointed instrument through the skin on the back of the hand was going to be. This severe pain has been linked to missed medical appointments and follow-up care due to fear, distress, and needle phobias (Szmuk, Szmuk and Ezri, 2005;McMurtry et al, 2016;Trost et al, 2017).…”