Research
A selection of studies related to the driving forces behind the Effi-Q technology
Fear of Needles - The Longterm Effects of Early Childhood Injection Pain
The Role of Needle Fear in Pediatric Flu Vaccine HesitancyIn this cross‑sectional study, needle fear in children significantly predicted parents’ willingness to switch from injectable to nasal flu vaccines, confirming needle fear as a determinant of pediatric vaccine hesitancy.
Prevalence, causes, impacts, and management of needle fear in adults with chronic diseaseThis study found that needle phobia, often rooted in earlier life experiences, led over one‑third of affected adults to avoid blood draws, donations, and vaccinations, contributing to delayed therapy and poorer disease outcomes.
Prevalence of pain and fear as barriers to vaccination in children: systematic reviewThis review estimated that pain or needle fear accounts for about 8% of vaccination barriers in the general pediatric population and 18.3% in under‑vaccinated children, demonstrating a substantial contribution to non‑compliance.
The prevalence and evidence‑based management of needle fear in adults with chronic diseaseAmong dialysis patients, 36% reported needle fear and many indicated it influenced their choice of kidney replacement therapy or refusal of hemodialysis, illustrating how persistent needle fear can shape long‑term treatment decisions.
Prevalence, causes, impacts, and management of needle fear (broader analysis)In additional analyses, this work reports that roughly half of diabetic patients may delay starting injectable treatment because of needle fear, which is associated with adverse outcomes and increased mortality in conditions like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Factors Affecting Efficacy & Comfort of Subcutaneous Injections
Subcutaneous Injection of Drugs: Literature Review (Usach et al.)This review identifies key factors that influence pain and comfort with subcutaneous injections—needle characteristics, site, injected volume, speed, osmolality, viscosity, pH, and excipients—and notes that these strongly affect adherence.
Impact of Injection Speed, Volume, and Site on Pain SensationIn insulin injections, this study showed that injection device design, angle, pressure, speed, drug formulation, dose volume, and anatomical site all modulate perceived pain, with inappropriate combinations increasing discomfort and risking non‑compliance.
Procedural and Physical Interventions for Vaccine Injections (systematic review)This review of 31 trials found that specific intramuscular technique choices (such as not aspirating and giving the most painful vaccine last) and positioning (upright vs. supine) can reduce infant distress and fear during injections.
Improving subcutaneous injection safety among nursesThis controlled study showed that structured training (video or face‑to‑face) significantly improved nurses’ subcutaneous injection technique, including correct site selection and injection speed, which are critical for safe and effective delivery.
Subcutaneous Injection of Drugs: pain drivers in common formulations
Within the same literature review, experimental work is highlighted showing that citrate buffers in epoetin alfa and growth hormone formulations notably increased local pain after subcutaneous injection, underscoring how excipient choice can hamper comfort.
The Lack of Medical Technology Innovation for Pediatric Patients
Barriers to and facilitators of paediatric medical device development: a scoping reviewThis review concludes that pediatric medical device development lags behind adult devices by up to 10 years and identifies regulatory, financial, and technical barriers that slow innovation for children.
The crucial need for innovation in pediatric medical devices (Baylor College of Medicine blog)This article highlights that many pediatric cardiac catheterization procedures rely on off‑label adult devices and that most high‑risk therapeutic devices lack pediatric approval, underscoring a persistent innovation gap.
Addressing Challenges in Pediatric Medical Device Innovation (Princeton Med Review)This piece describes how programs like the FDA’s Pediatric Device Consortia and academic pediatric innovation centers are attempting to close the longstanding gap between adult and pediatric device development.
Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Program descriptions referenced in innovation reviews
Analyses of the PDC program describe how the FDA established these consortia specifically because traditional device development pathways under‑serve pediatrics, leaving critical needs in child‑specific technologies unmet for years.