Study: Public’s fear of blood is highly overestimated

A new study from psychology researchers at Ohio University shows that the general public grossly overestimates the percentage of people who faint or even become lightheaded or dizzy when donating blood.

While fewer than 1 percent of donors faint and fewer than 4 percent become lightheaded or dizzy, people surveyed, on average, believed that 11.5 percent of donors faint and 27.3 percent of donors experience dizziness or lightheadedness, according to the study, published in a recent issue of the journal Transfusion.

Estimates were even higher among people who said they had a fear of having blood drawn from an arm.

Those who said they were “extremely” afraid of blood draws overestimated the adverse reactions by 36 times, said OU professor Christopher France, who authored the report with senior researcher Janis France, his wife.

Still, even people who had “no fear” overestimated the reactions by 16 times.

France attributes some of the fear to portrayals in the media of blood donations where characters faint. Other factors, the report said, could be seeing or hearing about the adverse reactions of other donors.

He hopes the report’s findings help to counter those concerns.

“We are looking at ways to try to enhance the blood donation experience, particularly for first-time donors or donors who are concerned about giving blood,” France said. “We know there are ways to address fears.”

For example, he said, asking donors about fear and addressing it when identified can help make people more comfortable.

While about 40 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, France said, only about 5 percent are current donors.

He said a lot of people donate once and never return.

“We’re really trying to change that,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out how to make the experience as positive as possible so people keep going.”

At the American Red Cross, which was not involved in the study, efforts to help people understand what to expect when donating include educational materials on its website and blog and at blood drives and donation centers, Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer, said in a statement.

“The American Red Cross understands that for some individuals the process of donating blood can be stressful and fear-provoking,” her statement said.

“Red Cross phlebotomists undergo a training process where they are trained to look for adverse reactions such as pre-faint reactions, such as dizziness, as well as how to properly communicate to donors during the process to help ease donation anxiety. The health and safety of our blood donors is our top priority.”

Fainting, dizziness and lightheadedness are more common in people who are fearful, France said, indicating that they can be psychological reactions.

As such, the risk of reaction goes down when fear goes down, he said.

The study included responses from 1,019 people ages 18 to 80 who completed an anonymous online survey. Among them, 270 — 27 percent — had never donated blood, and half were at least somewhat afraid of having blood drawn.

Among age groups, people who were younger had higher estimations of adverse reactions.

First-time donors can find information on donating at www.redcrossblood.org/ donate-blood/how-to-donate/common-concerns/firsttime-donors.html. To find an American Red Cross blood drive or donation center, visit www.redcrossblood.org/ give.html/find-drive.