The incidence of adult needle phobia, ranked at 10% in a 1995 study, has been steadily growing. A study by Dr. Taddio in 2012 found a prevalence of 24% of adults. Similarly, a a 2012 survey by Target found 23% of those who didn’t get a flu shot avoided it because of the needle. For children, the incidence changed from 25% (Hamilton) to 63% (Taddio) — 252% increase in less than 2 decades. Our NIH research showed children with high needle fear were 2.5x less likely to start their HPV series than those with low fear. Fear of needles is a barrier to health.
As fear of needles has risen, public health implications are already being seen. The Taddio Study found noncompliance with vaccination due to fear in 7% of adults and 8% of children. According to a study of patients who DID go for travel vaccinations, 22% of adults fear needles enough to take risks with their health; the irony is that this study was DONE at a travel immunization clinic. What about patients who didn’t even go to the clinic to be available to ask? Studies from Japan to Thailand show that up to 75% of people do not donate blood due to fear, which affects our emergency safety system. Depending on the types and severity of the needle phobia, health risks may vary.
51% of adults with Type 2 Diabetes delay starting insulin due to fear; 94% feel fear reactions every time they inject. (Aronson R, DIABETES TECH & THERAP 2012 14(8):741-7; Kruger DF Diabetes met 2015:8;49-56).
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Insulin pens are less painful than normal syringes but because pens are much more expensive than syringes, pens may be less prevalent for global treatment of diabetes than in the USA and wealthier European countries. Alternatives like inhaled insulin such as Afrezza may be more widely accepted by physicians in other countries where insulin is commonly injected by syringes rather than pens.
