Knowledge, attitudes, and practices for tick bite prevention and tick control among residents of Long Island, New York, USA.

In the United States, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a major public health concern and a source of significant morbidity. To reduce tick-borne disease incidence, understanding factors associated with increased risk in humans for tick bites is necessary. These risk factors can include TBD knowledge, attitudes about prevention and care, and associated practices of individuals and their communities, including paying for preventive services. Our study focused on Long Island, New York, a region with high endemicity of ticks and TBDs. The purpose of our study was to identify gaps in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding TBDs in residents of this region to inform priorities for TBD interventions. To this end, we performed a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey and collected 803 responses from Long Island residents. Our survey results demonstrated that Long Island residents had a low to moderate level of knowledge regarding ticks and TBDs. Still, residents expressed concern regarding TBDs, with increased levels of concern associated with increased likelihood of paying for tick control and for practicing tick bite prevention strategies. Individuals with pets were more likely to practice these tick bite prevention strategies. Residents with more frequent exposure to ticks, with a history of TBD in their household, and with higher general concern over ticks were also more likely to pay for tick control services. These findings highlight gaps in resident knowledge, differences in attitudes towards tick preventative behavior, and potential factors affecting motivation towards implementing tick control measures, which can inform future public health messaging regarding tick bite prevention.

Cuadera MKQ ，Mader EM ，Safi AG ，Harrington LC ... -  《-》

Tickborne disease awareness and protective practices among U.S. Forest Service employees from the upper Midwest, USA.

Schotthoefer A ，Stinebaugh K ，Martin M ，Munoz-Zanzi C ... -  《BMC PUBLIC HEALTH》

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding tick-borne disease prevention in Lyme disease-endemic areas of the Upper Midwest, United States.

Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are a major public health threat in the Upper Midwestern United States, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. To prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases, public health officials commonly recommend personal protective measures and property management techniques. Adoption of tick-borne disease prevention behaviors and practices by individuals are, however, highly variable. We aimed to characterize current tick-borne disease knowledge, attitudes, and prevention behaviors (KAB) practiced by the public in these states, as well as their willingness to use specific tick control methods. We conducted a population-based survey in summer 2019 in 48 high-risk counties (those having a five-year average (2013-2017) Lyme disease incidence of ≥ 10 cases per 100,000 persons per year), in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A total of 2713 surveys were analyzed; survey weights were used to account for household selection probability and post-stratified to match county-level joint age and sex population distributions in population-level inference. An estimated 98% of the population had heard of Lyme disease, with most perceiving it as very or extremely serious (91%); however, only an estimated 25% perceived tick-borne diseases as very or extremely common in their community. Among those who spent time in places with ticks from April through October, an estimated 68% check themselves thoroughly for ticks most of the time or always and 43% use bug repellent on skin or clothing most of the time or always. An estimated 13% of the population had ever treated their property with a pesticide to kill ticks, and 3% had ever used devices that apply pesticide to rodents to kill ticks on their property. Willingness to practice tick bite prevention behaviors, however, was estimated to be much higher; with 82% being willing to perform tick checks at least once a day, and more than 60% willing to use bug repellent, tick control products on pets, or to bathe within two hours of being outdoors. We found that residents would likely be willing to support a county-wide tick control program to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease in their community (81%) or to apply tick control products to their property to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease in their household (79%). Tick checks were more likely to be practiced among participants who perceived tick-borne diseases to be highly prevalent in their community, if they or a household member had been previously diagnosed with a tick-borne disease?, or if they perceived tick exposure to be likely around their home, cabin, or vacation home. In addition, property-based tick control methods were associated with perceived risk of encountering ticks around the home, cabin, or vacation home. Participants who had seen information from state health departments were also more likely to practice preventive measures. The most common reported barriers to using any of these methods were forgetfulness, safety concerns, and lack of awareness. Our survey findings shed light on how residents from these Upper Midwest states may adopt tick control and tick bite prevention measures and how public health outreach may be most effective for this population.

Beck A ，Bjork J ，Biggerstaff BJ ，Eisen L ，Eisen R ，Foster E ，Signs K ，Tsao JI ，Kough E ，Peterson M ，Schiffman E ，Muganda CP ，Osborn R ，Wozniak R ，Bron GM ，Phaneuf D ，Smith D ，Bartholomay L ，Paskewitz S ，Hinckley AF ... -  《-》

A qualitative study to explore farmworkers' knowledge, beliefs and preventive practices toward ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Farmworkers are considered a high-risk group for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the farmworkers' experience, knowledge, health beliefs, information needs, and preventive practices of tick bites and TBDs. A total of nine focus group discussions with 56 farmworkers across eight animal farms in Peninsular Malaysia were conducted between August and October 2013. Farmworkers explained their experience of tick bites, but no one reported TBDs. Many farmworkers indicated that they did not seek any medical treatment. There was a misconception that ticks are solely pathogenic to farm animals. Farmworkers perceived low severity and susceptibility of tick bites, and low self-efficacy of tick bite prevention, however, a group also perceived susceptibility to getting tick bites due to the characteristics of their job. Barriers for prevention were related to the perception and knowledge towards ticks. Farmworkers requested information about TBDs. This study of farmworkers identified gaps in the knowledge of TBDs, barriers of the tick bite preventive measures and information needs. These findings suggest a need for education programs to improve the knowledge of ticks and TBDs, change health beliefs and address the barriers of tick bite preventive measures.

Ghane Kisomi M ，Wong LP ，Tay ST ，Bulgiba A ，Nizam QNH ... -  《-》

A survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of veterinary professionals regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases: Insights from Ohio, USA.

Globally, ticks are becoming more problematic as agricultural pests and vectors of tick-borne diseases (TBDs), many of which are shared between animals and people. Veterinary professionals, including veterinarians and non-veterinarians, are considered a vulnerable group through occupational exposure. To inform educational interventions at the intrapersonal level, a common approach is to first assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of target populations. Thus, our objective was to assess KAP of veterinary professionals in Ohio, a state faced with expanding and invading ticks of medical and veterinary concern. Using a convenience sample, we surveyed 178 veterinary professionals across Ohio with an electronic questionnaire that covered knowledge, attitudes, practices, exposures, demography, education, and surveillance regarding ticks and TBDs. We found that veterinary professionals had cautionary attitudes towards ticks and TBDs and practiced prevention for themselves and their patients, even when tick exposures were infrequently reported. However, veterinary professionals significantly lacked in knowledge regarding tick biology and local TBD epidemiology. Furthermore, we found that knowledge regarding tick biology and attitudes towards ticks and TBDs did not associate with practices. Instead, we found that veterinarian status and routine tick checks of patients were associated with frequent discussions of tick prevention with clients. Our findings emphasize that most tick exposures of veterinary professionals are occupational, and thus prevention should start at the workplace. Cultivating knowledge of veterinary professionals regarding tick biology and local TBD epidemiology may lead to greater motivation and confidence with identifying ticks and testing for TBDs, which may also increase the diagnostic capacity of veterinary professionals for tick and TBD surveillance. Because veterinary professionals typically interact with both animals and their owners, improving their KAP regarding ticks and TBDs, can in turn promote animal, human, and environmental health within a "One Health" context.

Eleftheriou A ，Swisher S ，Arruda A ，Berrian A ，Pesapane R ... -  《-》