title: Needle phobia--changing venepuncture practice in ambulatory care.
abstract: Needle phobia is a term used in practice to describe an anticipatory fear of needle insertion. A proportion of children display high levels of fear, pain and behavioural distress when exposed to, or anticipating, needle insertion. A difficult routine venepuncture in our ambulatory care unit led staff to review practice and develop a three-step approach to overcoming 'needle phobia': relaxation, control and graded exposure. These developments have resulted in the unit becoming a local referral centre for children and young people between the ages of 5-19 years with this problem. Time and skill are needed to prevent or overcome this distressing problem which can be caused by health care professionals not listening to children and young people.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Nursing, Canterbury Christ Church University College.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thurgate
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heppell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015984:Causality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration; D012944:Social Support; D035502:Trust