Pain and anxiety due to venipuncture in the adult population.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate anxiety and pain induced by venipuncture and its statistical association with sociodemographic variables and history of previous venipuncture in the adult population.

Method: An observational, cross-sectional, quantitative and analytical study was conducted. A questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic variables and variables related to pain and anxiety induced by venipuncture in the adult population attending a Mexican ambulatory care center. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the variables studied was performed using the IBM program SPSS®.

Results: 2157 adults participated, of whom 1464 (67.9%) were men. The mean age (± standard deviation) of the participants was 34.9 (12.7) years. Of the total venipunctures, 1592 (73.8%) were painful and 1206 (55.9%) were classified as distressing. Age, gender, history of previous venipuncture and venipuncture anxiety were statistically significant risk factors for venipuncture pain. On the other hand, age, venipuncture pain and history of previous venipuncture were risk factors for anxiety during venipuncture.

Conclusions: A high incidence of pain and anxiety due to venipuncture was found, as well as several factors that may increase it in the Mexican adult population. Healthcare professionals should consider pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to reduce venipuncture anxiety and pain, which would facilitate patient self-management and outpatient visits for therapeutic, diagnostic, preventive, or rehabilitative care as needed.