Needle phobia

AIM: Procedures, such as immunisation and venepuncture, can be distressing for paediatric patients, especially those with needle phobia and neurodevelopmental disorders. Procedural sedation helps provide access to equitable health care in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pilot outpatient procedural sedation clinics at the Women's and Children's Hospital and the impact on patient care and outcomes. METHODS: A prospective review was undertaken between July 2021 and May 2022 on all patients who attended the procedural sedation clinics at the Women's and Children's Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in adolescents; these vaccines play a critical role in limiting the transmission and impact of COVID-19. This systematic review aims to summarize the willingness of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and the factors influencing their decision. METHODS: A search of literature published between January 2018 and August 2022 was performed in Medline©, EMBASE©...

Objective To describe the development process of a patient-centered initiative focused on improving primary care health outcomes of patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and needle-related anxiety using evidence-based practices and novel approaches that can be implemented in outpatient settings. The overall outcome of the program is to increase vaccine uptake and accessibility in the IDD population as well as improve needle-related procedures in primary care settings to be more humane and effective...

BACKGROUND: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for severe allergic reactions, and rapid treatment is associated with lower rates of hospitalization and death. Current treatment options (epinephrine auto-injectors and manual intramuscular injection) are considered cumbersome, and most patients/caregivers fail to use them, even during severe reactions. An intranasal epinephrine delivery device, neffy, has been designed to provide an additional option for patients/caregivers. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the comparative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of neffy 2...

Objective Patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience needle phobia at greater rates than individuals in the general population. Needle phobia deters patients with IDD from receiving routine medical procedures, which impacts their physical health outcomes. The aim of this quality improvement study was to assess the feasibility of a minimal sedation protocol in an outpatient care setting for patients with IDD and needle phobia. Methods The sample included 18 patients characterized as having a diagnosis of IDD only or IDD and needle phobia compared to patients with only a diagnosis of needle phobia...

PURPOSE: Vasovagal syncope (VVS), or fainting, is frequently triggered by pain, fear, or emotional distress, especially with blood-injection-injury stimuli. We aimed to examine the impact of intravenous (IV) instrumentation on orthostatic tolerance (OT; fainting susceptibility) in healthy young adults. We hypothesized that pain associated with IV procedures would reduce OT. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, participants (N = 23; 14 women; age 24...

Needle phobia is a specific phobia classified as an anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5, and can be a serious problem for patients requiring insulin injections. However, there have been few reports to date on the management of adults with diabetes and needle phobia. We here report a case of a woman with pancreatic diabetes who developed needle phobia and could no longer perform self-injections. She started to use a sensor-augmented pump (SAP), and was able to perform a puncture for the insulin pump and the continuous glucose monitoring sensor by herself...

SIGNIFICANCE: The number of injections administered has increased dramatically worldwide due to vaccination campaigns following the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a problem of disposing of syringes and needles. Accidental needle sticks occur among medical and cleaning staff, exposing them to highly contagious diseases, such as hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus. In addition, needle phobia may prevent adequate treatment. To overcome these problems, we propose a needle-free injector based on thermocavitation...

As a prospective influenza vaccination platform, a microneedle patch offers advantages such as self-administration and reduction of needle-phobia-associated vaccination avoidance. In an effort to design a broadly protective influenza vaccine we have previously developed a vaccine formulation containing the highly conserved ectodomain sequence of the M2 influenza protein (M2e) attached to the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with CpG as a soluble adjuvant (AuNP-M2e + sCpG). Our previous studies have used the intranasal route for vaccination and demonstrated broad protection from this vaccine...

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by variants in the extracellular microfibril fibrillin ( FBN1 ) gene. Here we report an FBN1 variant in a child with an unusual skin rash mimicking cutaneous vasculitis, and mild aortic root dilatation. The case was complicated by lack of typical skeletal MFS phenotype; and severe needle phobia preventing any blood testing for workup of suspected vasculitis. Therefore inflammatory markers, autoantibody profile and general hematology/biochemistry results were unknown...

BACKGROUND: Injectable medicines are increasingly used to manage abnormal levels of lipids, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. Enhancing our understanding of patients' perceptions of these injectables, can inform practice with the aim of increasing uptake and medication adherence. AIM: To explore patient's experiences of using injectables and to identify potential facilitators and barriers to using injectable therapies in dyslipidaemia. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with patients who were using injectables to manage their cardiovascular conditions...

BACKGROUND: Totally implantable access port (TIAP) is a subcutaneously implanted, long-term infusion device that is widely used in oncology patients. However, multiple needle insertions into TIAP may lead to pain, anxiety, and dread in patients. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Valsalva maneuver, eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream, and the combination of both in relieving pain of cannulations on TIAP. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled study...

BACKGROUND: Patient adherence to insulin therapy is one of the major challenges during the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Considering the dearth of investigations, this study aimed to determine the adherence pattern and factors linked with nonadherence among diabetic patients using insulin in Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included diabetic patients using basal-bolus regimens, whether they had type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This study's objective was determined using a validated data collection form that included sections on demographics, reasons for missed insulin doses, list of barriers to therapy, difficulties during insulin administration, and factors that may improve insulin inaction adherence...

INTRODUCTION: An abnormal increase in spontaneous neurotransmission can induce subsynaptic knots in the myocyte called myofascial trigger points. The treatment of choice is to destroy these trigger points by inserting needles. However, 10% of the population has a phobia of needles, blood, or injuries. Therefore, the objective of this study is to verify the usefulness of shock waves in the treatment of myofascial trigger points. METHODS: Two groups of mice have been developed for this: healthy muscles treated with shock waves; trigger points affected muscles artificially generated with neostigmine and subsequently treated with shock waves...

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) or reflex is usually caused by physical and mental stress-related factors, like pain, anxiety, and fear, and it is one of the most frequent complications during dental treatment. Two patients, both with histories of dental phobia and of VVS during vaccination, venipuncture, and dental treatment with local anesthetics, were scheduled for dental treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation. However, both experienced episodes of VVS that occurred during venipuncture using a 24-gauge indwelling needle...

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric symptoms, comprising cognitive impairment, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and anxiety, are prevalent and may co-occur during and after chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Electroacupuncture (EA), which involves mild electrical stimulation with acupuncture, holds great potential in addressing the management of individual symptoms. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating if EA can manage concurrent neuropsychiatric symptoms in cancer (i.e., symptom cluster)...

BACKGROUND: Needle phobia occurs in more than half of diabetic patients due to the pain caused by frequent insulin injections. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of topically administered lavender aromatherapy on the pain of insulin injections in diabetic patients. METHODS: In this double-blind randomized controlled and experimental study, patients who met the study criteria were divided into three groups; topical lavender oil (n = 60), placebo (n = 60), and control (n = 60) groups...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the time required and concerns raised by various perspectives of participants regarding administering subcutaneous and intravenous trastuzumab for patients with breast cancer (BC). DESIGN: This observational time-motion study design with mixed-methods research (cross-sectional surveys and semistructured interviews) was conducted. The time spent on preparing or administering trastuzumab by different healthcare professionals (HCPs) was recorded...

BACKGROUND: Chronic flank pain can pose a therapeutic challenge. Current management centres on visceral pathology affecting the renal system. Acute exacerbations can be severe, requiring emergency admission. Patients usually have well-established visceral pathology including polycystic kidney disease, Fowler's syndrome, and renal calculi disease that often cause recurrent urinary tract infections. However, in many cases, despite negative investigations including imaging, biochemistry and urine analysis, flank pain persists...

OBJECTIVES: Post cholecystectomy pain syndrome can affect over a third of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Acute exacerbations can result in recurrent emergency admission with excessive healthcare utilization. Standard surgical management appears to focus on visceral aetiology. Abdominal myofascial pain syndrome is a poorly recognised somatic pathology that can cause refractory pain in this cohort. It develops as a result of trigger points in the abdominal musculature...