Table 2. Causes and impacts of needle fear.
| Causes and Impacts of Needle Fear | Participants with Needle Fear (N = 1,325) | |
|---|---|---|
| N | % | |
| Contributors to needle fear experienced during or before medical procedures/interventions * | ||
| General anxiety | 1,273 | 96.1% |
| Pain | 1,266 | 95.5% |
| Fear of something going wrong during the procedure | 1,262 | 95.2% |
| Fear of fainting/feeling dizzy | 1,248 | 94.2% |
| Previous traumatic experience with needles | 1,246 | 94.0% |
| Having to see blood | 1,234 | 93.1% |
| Disgust regarding the procedure | 1,232 | 93.0% |
| Other | 1,082 | 81.7% |
| Largest contributor to needle fear experienced during or before medical procedures/interventions | ||
| Pain | 491 | 37.1% |
| General anxiety | 304 | 22.9% |
| Previous traumatic experience with needles | 232 | 17.5% |
| Having to see blood | 66 | 5.0% |
| Fear of something going wrong during the procedure | 65 | 4.9% |
| Fear of fainting/feeling dizzy | 56 | 4.2% |
| Other | 31 | 2.3% |
| Disgust regarding the procedure | 29 | 2.2% |
| Procedures avoided to reduce exposure to needles* | ||
| Blood draw from a vein in the arm | 691 | 52.2% |
| Blood donation | 649 | 49.0% |
| Vaccinations | 439 | 33.1% |
| Injection for pain relief | 416 | 31.4% |
| Injection for the treatment of a mild medical condition (low risk of morbidity) | 359 | 27.1% |
| Capillary blood draw (fingerstick) | 348 | 26.3% |
| Injection for the treatment of a severe medical condition (significant risk of morbidity/mortality) | 242 | 18.3% |
* Participants could select more than one option