Vasovagal reactions in volunteer blood donors: Analyzing the predictive power of the medical fears survey

The ability of three subscales of the Medical Fears Survey (fear of injections and blood draws, fear of blood, fear of mutilated bodies) to predict vasovagal reactions was examined in 364 volunteer blood donors. Participants completed the subscales of the Medical Fears Survey immediately prior to blood donation, and then rated their subjective physiological reactions while seated in a postdonation refreshment area. Correlation analyses indicated that high scores on the fear of injections and blood draws subscale was the best predictor of vasovagal reactions in first-time and experienced female donors (r = .65 and .34, respectively, p < .01). Although the fear of blood subscale was significantly correlated with vasovagal reactions in experienced male donors (r= .45, p < .01), none of the subscales of the Medical Fears Survey was significantly related to subjective physiological reactions in novice male blood donors. Finally, for female donors higher levels of vasovagal reactions to the donation process were associated with decreased intentions to donate blood in the future.