HOW IT STARTED

IN 2018, ELISABETH CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE CAN FAINT JUST FROM THE SIGHT OF NEEDLES. SHE FOUND THIS SO FASCINATING FROM A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE THAT, TOGETHER WITH JUDITA, SHE STARTED A RESEARCH INTO THE HOW AND WHY OF SPRAY FEAR AND FAINTING. IN ADDITION, IT BECAME MORE AND MORE CLEAR TO HIM HOW INCREDIBLY PREVALENT IT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF OR BECOME UNWELL FROM SPRAY NEEDLES, AND WHAT TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES THIS CAN HAVE FOR PEOPLE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY WANTED TO DISCOVER HOW THEY COULD CREATE A SOLUTION. 

THE EFFECT OF NEEDLE FEAR ON PATIENTS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

THAT SAME YEAR, CINDY AND ELISABETH JOINTLY COMPLETED AN MBA AT TIAS BUSINESS SCHOOL. FOR THEIR FINAL PROJECT, THEY CONDUCTED A STUDY AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE WITH A FEAR OF NEEDLES. PEOPLE WITH A FEAR OF NEEDLES INDICATED THAT THEY AVOIDED, POSTPONED, OR REFUSED CARE. HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ALSO INDICATED THAT PEOPLE WITH A FEAR OF NEEDLES—UNINTENTIONALLY—CAUSE CONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS. THE INJECTION ITSELF, SUCH AS A SHOT OR A BLOOD DRAW, IS ESSENTIALLY VERY SIMPLE. FOR PEOPLE WITH A FEAR OF NEEDLES, THE INJECTION CAN TAKE (MUCH) LONGER OR FAIL. SOCIAL SUPPORT OR REASSURANCE IS OFTEN NO LONGER EFFECTIVE, AND THE PATIENT BECOMES IRRESPONSIBLE. MOREOVER, PATIENTS SOMETIMES BECOME AGGRESSIVE. ALL IN ALL, THIS IS DISTRESSING FOR BOTH THE PATIENT AND THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, AND COSTLY.