Commentary on Holly et al.: Applied Tension and Coping with Blood Donation: a Randomized Trial

Excerpt

Maintaining an adequate blood supply is essential given the ageing of the US population and the decline of blood donation [1]. The difficulty in retaining donors is often due to the experience of adverse physiological reactions such as dizziness, weakness, and lightheadedness during blood donation. These vasovagal reactions are most commonly observed among first time donors and it has been shown that moderate and severe vasovagal reactions reduce the likelihood of repeat donation by 50% or more [2]. Holly et al. [3] examined the efficacy of applied tension in reducing vasovagal symptoms during blood donation and the mechanisms of action that may explain any observed therapeutic effects. Applied tension, which involves repeated contraction of major muscle groups, is generally regarded as the treatment of choice for vasovagal symptoms observed among those with blood–injection–injury (BII) phobia [4]. Although applied tension is an empirically supported treatment for BII, the mechanism that may account for its therapeutic effects remains unclear. In examining issues of efficacy and mechanism, this study is well positioned to contribute to the literature at the applied and basic science level. At the applied level, controlled demonstrations of the incremental efficacy of applied tension would be justification for disseminating this intervention to blood donation centers worldwide. At the basic science level, identifying the mechanism of change will provide valuable insight for making applied tension more efficient and effective. …