This project initially began as research into the causes of fear and anxiety in the blood donation environment. However, what began as a search for a singular cause has expanded into an examination of the entire environment and the identity of the donor as they progress from pre-donation to post-donation stages.
As of May 2010 and the completion of my degree program, I've focused on a singular proposal as an incursion into the clinical space. The Cradle provides comfort and control for first-time blood donors by giving them the agency to hide the needlestick event. With 1 out of 4 people never returning due to bad experiences in the first donation, I decided to investigate this 25% loss as a possible opportunity to stabilize the entire blood supply. By giving the donors the opportunity to hide the visual overstimulation of their first donation, but giving the attending phlebotomist clear access and visual monitoring of the situation - the patient regains a sense of control that is so critical in the development of patient agency and identity development.
