title: Determining the effect of vein visualization technology on donation success, vasovagal symptoms, anxiety and intention to re-donate in whole blood donors aged 18-30 years: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vein visualization technology (VVT) devices use near-infrared light to assist location of peripheral veins. The current study investigated the impact of VVT on donor experience and collection success for young blood donors at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study in donors aged 18 to 30 years used a two intervention to one control randomized trial design with 285 new and 587 returning donors recruited at two sites. Donors reported presyncopal symptoms, phlebotomy pain, anxiety and intentions to redonate along with other measures. Participating phlebotomists rated usefulness of the technology. Flow rates, collection volumes and other donation information were taken from routine data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between control and intervention groups on presyncopal symptoms, phlebotomy pain, anxiety, intentions to redonate, flow rates, collection volumes or vasovagal reactions (all P's > 0·05). Phlebotomist ratings of VVT were significantly more positive when they had less than 5 years of experience (P < 0·01) or when the vein was not visible to the naked eye (P < 0·01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that VVT does not improve the donation experience for younger blood donors. Staff reports indicate that VVT may have some utility for assisting with difficult phlebotomies.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mondy
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brama
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malkov
authors.affiliation: Manufacturing, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wall-Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Irving
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001315:Australia; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018962:Phlebotomy; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; blood collection; blood donors; randomized controlled trial; vein visualization technology