Needle phobia in emergency department in a rural district hospital of Nepal: A cross-sectional analysis

TL;DR

This study finds that over half of emergency department patients in Nepal have needle phobia, which affects their treatment and highlights the need for better management strategies.

Contribution

The study identifies key factors associated with needle phobia and effective coping methods in a rural Nepali emergency setting.

Findings

56.2% of 501 patients in the emergency department reported needle phobia.

Family history, non-needle phobias, and frequent blood draws were significantly linked to needle phobia.

Relaxation techniques and education were most effective in managing needle phobia.

Abstract

Needle phobia is a major concern for general practitioners in emergency department. Treatment of patients arriving for emergency care must be provided without delay. General practitioners face the challenge of managing patients with needle phobia, as it can exacerbate their condition, potentially leading to refusal of initial treatments. This emphasizes the importance of developing effective strategies to address needle phobia in emergency care. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Terhathum district hospital among 501 patients seeking treatment in the emergency department. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. This study reveals that 281 participants (56.2%) experienced needle phobia, with an average fear intensity score of 5.17 ± 1.45 on a 0–10 scale (0 indicating no fear and 10 indicating the highest intensity). The correlation of needle phobia with associated factors (p-value < 0.01) was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. It was found that family history (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.33, 2.9), non-needle-related phobia (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.3, 2.72), and frequent need blood draw (AOR = 2, 95% CI = 1.36, 3.0) were significantly associated with needle phobia. The study indicates that 66% of individuals with needle phobia have a family history of phobia, compared to 49.5% of those without needle phobia, suggesting that both hereditary and environmental factors contribute to its development. Among various reason, general anxiety and pain were the two most common reasons for needle fear. Approximately 181 (64.4%) participants avoided medical treatment and out of those, 59 (32.6%) refused blood donation. Multiple response analysis revealed that relaxation techniques (26.7%), distraction during the procedure (22.1%), and education on how instruments work (16.7%) were the most effective methods for alleviating needle phobia. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the prevalence, causes, and impact of needle phobia, emphasizing the importance of addressing it to improve patient experiences and compliance with medical treatments, leading to better health outcomes.

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