Ignoring needle fear doesn't make it go away. It makes it worse, and it has a cost. Why Ignoring Needle Fear Can Make It Worse Many people are told to simply "look away" or "be...

Kidney failure is a growing health issue in Australia and New Zealand. Between 2000 and 2021, the number of people receiving dialysis in Australia more than doubled, rising from 6,400 to 15,200. Dialysis is a...

If you're working in healthcare with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, here's an interesting article about developing a Needle Anxiety Program: A Patient-Centered Initiative for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities. We're happy to...

No one enjoys getting injections. And yet, over our lifetime there will likely be numerous times when our health will require a medical procedure that involves a needle; whether that’s immunisation, a blood test or...

What is Pain? Picture hitting your hand with a hammer. Since the discovery of the nerve, pain has been portrayed as an impulse traveling from hand to head, with concrete implications: if you can stop...

Distraction toolboxes are full of toys, games, puzzles and pain relief devices that help children feel less anxious before, during and after medical tests and treatments. For a child having their first procedure, you want...

As Child Life Specialists, we support many children who have a fear of needles. This can make injections, port accesses, IV placements, and blood draws very difficult, anxiety-producing, and potentially traumatic for paediatric patients and...