Belonephobia and finger pricking associated pain in hematology laboratory: A cross sectional study among undergraduate medical students in Nepal

Abstract

BackgroundNeedle phobia, clinically termed as Belonephobia strongly influences psychological behaviors. Physiological responses include palpitations, shortness of breath, nervousness and fainting. In Nepal, first year MBBS students prick their own finger for hematology practical. They use to suffer from Belonephobia and pain due to finger prick. The main objective of this study was to determine influential fear factors and assessment of pain during hematology practical. Material and Methods:One hundred and forty two first year medical students of basic sciences participated in the study. Standard pricking was performed by blood lancet in the middle and side of the middle finger during hematology practical for the assessment of pain in Young Baker scale and visually rating scale. They also responded to a questionnaire on factors associated with fear of needles and lancets, symptoms etc. Corresponding Author Results:Out of 142 students, numbers of males were 76 and females were 66. Belonephobia persisted among 65.2% females and 42.1% males, p<0.01. Watching others during lancing or receiving injection was a significant fear factor. Lateral side pricking was preferred by students for less pain. Mild, moderate, "hurts little bit", "little more", "even more" were the maximum response for pain sensation. Conclusion:Positive approaches like separation of lancing area, systematic exposure, behavioral therapy, counseling and administration of anti-anxiety drugs for severely needle phobics, can alleviate fear and anxiety. Female students need more assistance. Development of proper strategies and necessary interventions are required, which will facilitate to overcome this phobia.

Effect of Hypodermic Needle Versus Safety Lancet on the Fear and Anxiety of Needle Prick Among Undergraduate Medical Students During Hematology Practical: A Cohort Study From a Resource-Limited Setting

“…In a study by Roy et al, it was shown that subjects who tend to prick the sides of their fingers tend to feel a greater degree of lancing pain compared to those who pricked the middle part of the finger pulp [ 18 ]. This was highly subjective as no proper demarcation was made to distinguish the side and middle part of the finger.…”

Teaching Physiology in Nepal – an integrative approach in basic sciences

“…MCOMS Management are always helping and encouraging all sort of research activities every possible way. A large number of research activities linvolving hematology, questionnaire based surveys, are going on the Department; sometimes in a collaborative manner with other departments like Psychiatry [2][3][4][5]. There are also postgraduate programme (MD and M.Sc.)…”