Compilation and testing the reliability of questionnaires about the fear of blood extraction (venipuncture) among students of Medical Faculty of Kragujevac

Abstract

It is of particular importance to use validated questionnaires to remove fear of needles and blood collection, as this public health problem has been observed in a large number of patients and may inadequately affect medical healthcare. The aim of the study was to conduct a research on the reliability of the questionnaire on the fear of blood sampling among students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Kragujevac. The method used in this research was a cross-sectional study. The sample involved the students of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and professional studies of health care at the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Kragujevac (Republic of Serbia), a total of 300 students, which was 20% of the student population at the aforementioned faculty. The research instrument was the questionnaire The Blood-Injection Symptom Scale (BISS) which contained 22 questions. The research lasted one month during 2016. Statistical data processing was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Cronbach's Alpha value - 0.894 and other parameters used to determine reliability showed a high reliability of this questionnaire. After explorative factor analysis, three factors that most affect adverse outcomes for venepuncture were obtained - vasovagal symptoms that occur as a result of fear, fear of needles and consequences of puncture, and the fear of hospitals and personnel who take blood samples. The BISS questionnaire showed good reliability in the population of students of the Faculty of Medicine in Kragujevac and can be used in the general population for examining the fear of needles, the consequences of needle stings, fear of hospitals and people who take blood samples, and therefore to prevent these symptoms.