Tasso, Inc.’s Survey Unveils One in Three Patients Delay Diagnostic Blood Tests — Anxiety, Pain and Inconvenience of Traditional Phlebotomy Lead to Patients Missing Routine Care
78% Of Patients Reported That Having Blood Drawn Induces Anxiety
74% Of Patients Interested in Technology That Allows Painless Blood Collection at Home
SEATTLE – October 17, 2024 – Tasso, Inc., the leading provider of patient-centric, clinical grade blood collection solutions, surveyed more than 600 adults (age 18-65+) within the United States to assess their experiences and preferences regarding blood testing, as well as their perspectives about the future of patient care. The survey, titled Patient Preferences, Perceptions, and the Evolving Challenges of Ensuring Patient Compliance With Diagnostic Healthcare Testing, validated prevailing industry perspectives that the current status quo for blood collection underserves patients seeking more convenient and less painful options for blood collection.
Laboratory test results influence approximately 70% of medical decisions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighting the need to make testing more accessible. However, the survey revealed that one in three patients delay or avoid diagnostic blood tests, with the top reasons being inconvenient testing locations and discomfort during blood collection. Notably, 37% of respondents cited a fear of needles, a significant barrier to completing these essential tests.
The survey also found that 73% of respondents have purchased a home health testing kit, particularly during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet only 15% of respondents have completed a home blood test, suggesting that patients have low familiarity with what home testing options are available to them. Modern technologies that enable the self-collection of clinical-grade blood samples are expanding the possibilities of moving healthcare into the home, however, patient preferences and perceptions relating to home blood testing must be understood to successfully drive broader adoption of home-based care programs.
"This survey validated our assumption that the painful and often inconvenient process of blood collection frequently leads to patient non-compliance and missed care," said Ben Casavant, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Tasso. "Disrupting this model is crucial, as routine blood tests can detect critical health changes early. While patients are more familiar with home testing post-COVID, few have had access to home blood test kits. Offering a painless, at-home option could significantly improve compliance, especially for those with limited access to healthcare facilities."
Additional findings include:
Patients are not willing to travel far for blood testing and may put off physician-prescribed tests if the process is inconvenient.
Access to blood testing can be difficult for many patients, especially for those without reliable transportation and those living in rural areas. Not surprisingly, access challenges lead patients to delay prescribed testing.
69% are unwilling to travel more than 10 miles from home to complete a blood test
The #1 reported reason for delaying a prescribed blood test is that patients find it difficult to schedule time for a clinic visit
Patients associate pain and anxiety with traditional phlebotomy blood collection
Simply put, patients dislike having their blood drawn by venipuncture. Fear of needles is a significant factor. The majority of respondents report feelings of anxiety about the blood draw process and that they experience pain during the collection.
78% of respondents report some level of anxiety associated with having their blood drawn
37% of respondents report a fear of needles
87% of respondents rate their physical pain from venipuncture blood collection as a 1 or above on a standard 1-10 pain scale
Clear demand for solutions that improve the patient blood collection experience
Patients are seeking solutions to improve their blood testing experience and are willing to pay out of pocket for them.
Of those respondents who rated pain associated with venipuncture blood collection, 76% are willing to pay out of pocket to reduce the pain level
74% of respondents are interested in using painless home blood collection technology to complete a prescribed blood test
When asked to explain their interest in taking healthcare tests with a painless home blood collection technology, the #1 reason was painlessness and the #2 reason was convenience.
Methodology
The survey was conducted by PureSpectrum, an independent market research platform that gathers insights via its consumer Insights Platform in conjunction with an in-house sample Marketplace Platform. This Insights project studied 606 consumers between June 05, 2024 and June 24, 2024.
About Tasso
Tasso is an emerging healthcare technology company that is transforming the traditional blood collection paradigm with a patient-centric approach. The company’s devices enable simple, convenient, and virtually painless blood collection for users. Tasso technology has the power to bring healthcare anywhere, any time. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Tasso is privately held and funded by grants, investments, and co-development deals with various industry leaders. For more information, please visit www.tassoinc.com.
Media Contact
Dina Schneider
(206) 822-4186 x1016
media@tassoinc.com