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Fellin E, Varin M, Millien V. Outdoor worker knowledge of ticks and Lyme disease in Québec. Zoonoses Public Health 2024. [PMID: 38967431 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Lyme disease is a well-known occupational risk across North America caused by exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi via blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). As the geographic range of B. burgdorferi advances with the increasing distribution of blacklegged ticks, more outdoor workers are at risk of contracting Lyme disease. In this study, we examined the demography and personal perceptions of outdoor workers within one framework to better determine the overall risk for those working outdoors. METHODS AND RESULTS We analysed outdoor worker knowledge of ticks and of behaviours that can prevent tick bites and Lyme disease. We then compared these risk perceptions of individuals across age, sex, education, and industry, as well as time spent outdoors. We tested the hypothesis that the risk perception of an individual and their knowledge of Lyme disease transmission was dependent on their demographics, experience in their job, and the region in which they spend time outdoors. We estimated a knowledge-based risk score based on individuals' answers to a questionnaire on risk perception given to voluntary participants who work outdoors. Those who had higher risk scores were more at risk. We found that knowledge-based risk scores were correlated with geographic risk levels and with the number of hours per day spent outdoors. Those who work longer hours and who work in areas with mid-level risk had higher risk scores. Those who spend more time outdoors recreationally had lower risk scores. CONCLUSIONS Further examination and acknowledgment of the reasoning behind why these factors are affecting workers' risks must be considered to recognize that it is not necessarily demographics or geographically high-risk areas that affect an individual's risk. Workers' knowledge of these risks is affected by several variables that should be taken into consideration when implementing safety measures and awareness programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Fellin
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Varin
- Centre d'enseignement et de Recherche en Foresterie (CERFO), Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Virginie Millien
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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2
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Kim P, Maxwell S, Parijat N, Kim D, McNeely CL. Targeted Tick-Borne Disease Recognition: Assessing Risk for Improved Public Health. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:984. [PMID: 38786395 PMCID: PMC11121250 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12100984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a rapidly growing threat to public health. The incidence of TBDs is on the rise, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors beyond demographic considerations. This brief report combines a preliminary review of the literature with geographical case mapping to identify the various factors influencing TBD risk. The report highlights the vulnerability of outdoor workers, the importance of outdoor activities, and the role of education in adopting preventive behaviors. Pet ownership and interactions with animals are also associated with an increased risk. The state of Illinois is used as a case study for this report, revealing regional variations in TBD incidence, and linking them to agricultural practices, forested areas, and park accessibility. These findings inform recommendations for targeted prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for detailed geographical data to enhance public health efforts in curbing TBD incidence and risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pyung Kim
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Sarah Maxwell
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Nabila Parijat
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Dohyeong Kim
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Connie L. McNeely
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
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3
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Rubino F, Foley J. Prevalence and Knowledge of Tick-Borne Disease Among Forest Management Workers in Santa Cruz, California. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38682292 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2024.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: In Lyme-endemic areas, limited research has investigated the risk of tick-borne diseases among frontline workers in fire management. This study aimed to compare the exposure histories to ticks and tick-borne pathogens, knowledge, and prevention practices between individuals engaged in fire-related forest management and those participating in recreational activities within Santa Cruz County, CA, in an area of high risk of tick exposure. Methods: Blood samples from 55 forest workers and 58 members of the public were tested for bacterial DNA of and antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia species. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to 54 workers and 84 members of the public to identify gaps in knowledge and prevention practices. Results: Although workers had a higher percentage of positive B. burgdorferi antibodies than the public (5.5% compared with 1.7%), the difference was not statistically significant. Conversely, rickettsial antibodies were more prevalent among the public (17.2% versus 3.6% for workers), but specificity to pathogenic bacteria could not be confirmed. No DNA for the three pathogens or antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were detected. Many workers and members of the public reported tick bites (67.4% of participants), with a notable 11% increase among workers in the odds of being bitten for each additional year spent working in forests. Although workers took greater precautions, significant knowledge and practice gaps were identified among both populations, such as an inability to distinguish tick species from common arthropods (mites, spiders, fleas), overestimating the size of ticks, and inappropriate tick-removal techniques. Conclusion: This study underscores the risk of tick-borne diseases faced by fire management workers in Lyme disease-endemic regions. The findings emphasize the necessity for future studies of Lyme disease within this population, and highlight the urgent need for enhanced training programs to minimize these risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Rubino
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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Cuadera MKQ, Mader EM, Safi AG, Harrington LC. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices for tick bite prevention and tick control among residents of Long Island, New York, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102124. [PMID: 36764054 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mervin Keith Q Cuadera
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
| | - Emily M Mader
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
| | - Amelia Greiner Safi
- Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, United States; Department of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 United States.
| | - Laura C Harrington
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
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Socarras KM, Haslund-Gourley BS, Cramer NA, Comunale MA, Marconi RT, Ehrlich GD. Large-Scale Sequencing of Borreliaceae for the Construction of Pan-Genomic-Based Diagnostics. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1604. [PMID: 36140772 PMCID: PMC9498496 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The acceleration of climate change has been associated with an alarming increase in the prevalence and geographic range of tick-borne diseases (TBD), many of which have severe and long-lasting effects-particularly when treatment is delayed principally due to inadequate diagnostics and lack of physician suspicion. Moreover, there is a paucity of treatment options for many TBDs that are complicated by diagnostic limitations for correctly identifying the offending pathogens. This review will focus on the biology, disease pathology, and detection methodologies used for the Borreliaceae family which includes the Lyme disease agent Borreliella burgdorferi. Previous work revealed that Borreliaceae genomes differ from most bacteria in that they are composed of large numbers of replicons, both linear and circular, with the main chromosome being the linear with telomeric-like termini. While these findings are novel, additional gene-specific analyses of each class of these multiple replicons are needed to better understand their respective roles in metabolism and pathogenesis of these enigmatic spirochetes. Historically, such studies were challenging due to a dearth of both analytic tools and a sufficient number of high-fidelity genomes among the various taxa within this family as a whole to provide for discriminative and functional genomic studies. Recent advances in long-read whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and machine-learning have provided the tools to better understand the fundamental biology and phylogeny of these genomically-complex pathogens while also providing the data for the development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M. Socarras
- Center for Advanced Microbial Processing, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Benjamin S. Haslund-Gourley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, Room 101 Health Sciences Research Building, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Mary Ann Comunale
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, Room 101 Health Sciences Research Building, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Garth D. Ehrlich
- Center for Advanced Microbial Processing, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, Room 101 Health Sciences Research Building, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Center for Surgical Infections and Biofilms, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
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Ernieenor FCL, Apanaskevich DA, Ernna G, Ellyncia BB, Md Zain BM, Mariana A, Yaakop S. Morphological and molecular identification of medically important questing Dermacentor species collected from some recreational areas of Peninsular Malaysia. Syst Parasitol 2021; 98:731-751. [PMID: 34677736 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-021-10008-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Questing is a situation when a tick is seeking to get closer or ambush its potential host. However, information on questing tick species in Malaysia is still lacking, thus the association with tick-borne diseases (TBD) is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the tick species from five most frequently visited recreational areas in Pahang and Terengganu states, which were recorded to have high potential of TBD cases. By implementing handpick method, a total of 18 males and 15 females belonging to five Dermacentor Koch, 1844 species, were collected, namely D. compactus Neumann 1901, D. tricuspis (Schulze, 1933), D. auratus Supino 1897, D. steini (Schulze, 1933), and D. falsosteini Apanaskevich, Apanaskevich & Nooma respectively. The specimens were collected and identified based on morphological characters prior to obtaining the molecular data of COI and 16S rDNA. The D. compactus was the most abundant species collected in this study, while D. falsosteini was the least. All species were distinctly separated on the Neighbor Joining and Maximum Parsimony tree topologies and supported with high bootstrap values. Furthermore, a low intraspecific variation (0.00 - 0.01) was observed amongst the individuals of the same species in both genes. Meanwhile, each Dermacentor species was genetically different, with interspecific values ranging from 0.13-0.19 and 0.11-0.20 for COI and 16S rDNA. These findings had successfully recorded the tick species that were potentially associated with TBD, and which might be circulated among humans and animals. This study also has some implications on the diversity and geographical extension of Dermacentor ticks, thus should warrant further investigation as a potential vector of tick-borne diseases and public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraliana Che Lah Ernieenor
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- United States National Tick Collection, The James H. Oliver, Jr. Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460-8042, USA
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - George Ernna
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Bd Bilin Ellyncia
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Badrul Munir Md Zain
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ahamad Mariana
- Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Salmah Yaakop
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Forest-Bérard K, Ripoche M, Irace-Cima A, Thivierge K, Adam-Poupart A. More than ticking boxes: Training Lyme disease education ambassadors to meet outreach and surveillance challenges in Québec, Canada. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258466. [PMID: 34637465 PMCID: PMC8509862 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is an emerging public health threat in Canada, associated with the northward range expansion of the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). To address this, public health authorities have been carrying out surveillance activities and awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable populations such as outdoor workers. Implementing these measures is time-consuming and resource-intensive, prompting the assessment of alternatives. Our goal was to evaluate the feasibility and implementation of a training-of-trainers-inspired approach in raising awareness about LD risk and prevention among workers and general population, as well as to evaluate its potential to contribute to provincial LD surveillance efforts. We trained a group of workers from publicly-accessible outdoor parks of the province of Québec to become "LD education ambassadors". Ambassadors were trained to raise tick and LD awareness, share information on preventive measures in their respective communities, and lead tick sampling activities using a standardised protocol similar to that used by Public Health authorities. Ambassador-led outreach activities, public reach, sampling activities and collected ticks were documented, as well as ambassadors' satisfaction with the training using forms and semi-structured interviews. In total, 18 ambassadors from 12 organizations were trained. Between June and September 2019, they led 28 independent outreach activities, reaching over 1 860 individuals (from occupational and general public settings) in seven public health units. Ambassadors led 28 tick samplings, together collecting 11 I. scapularis ticks. This study suggests that an adapted training-of-trainers is a feasible approach to raising tick and LD risk awareness among Québec outdoor workers and public. Trained ambassadors have the potential of reaching a large portion of the population visiting or working in outdoor parks while also providing much-needed outreach regarding risk and prevention. Pushing this concept further to include other types of workers and jurisdictions may contribute to national LD surveillance efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Forest-Bérard
- Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marion Ripoche
- Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alejandra Irace-Cima
- Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal (ESPUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Karine Thivierge
- Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec (LSPQ), Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Ariane Adam-Poupart
- Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal (ESPUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
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Nesgos AT, Harrington LC, Mader EM. Experience and knowledge of Lyme disease: A scoping review of patient-provider communication. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101714. [PMID: 33780825 PMCID: PMC10044390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
There has been limited research on patient-provider communication dynamics regarding Lyme disease (LD) diagnosis and treatment. Evidence suggests communication in the clinical encounter improves when both patient and healthcare provider (HCP) have concordant orientations (or beliefs) on discussed topics, resulting in higher patient satisfaction and care outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review was to characterize and summarize current research findings on patient and provider knowledge and experiences regarding LD - two factors that may influence the orientation of both patients and providers toward LD in the clinical setting. None of the articles included in the review specifically addressed patient-provider interaction and relationships as the main objective. However, the existing literature indicates notable HCP uncertainty regarding LD diagnosis, treatment, and applied practice patterns. Current research also describes limited knowledge of LD among patient populations and a high prevalence of negative perceptions of care received in mainstream healthcare settings among individuals with persistent symptoms. We identified a critical gap in research that seeks to understand the dynamic of patients and HCPs communicating on the topic of LD in the clinical setting. Future research may identify opportunities where the patient-provider communication dynamic can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna T Nesgos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Laura C Harrington
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, 3138 Comstock Hall, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Emily M Mader
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, 3138 Comstock Hall, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Buczek A, Pilch J, Buczek W. Tick Preventive Behaviors and Practices Adopted by Medical Students from Poland, Germany, and Thailand in Relation to Socio-Demographic Conditions and Their Knowledge of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11120863. [PMID: 33287425 PMCID: PMC7761883 DOI: 10.3390/insects11120863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Given the high medical importance of ticks, we analyzed the most common preventive behaviors and practices adopted by medical students from Poland, Germany, and Thailand, and the level of their knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases. A survey consisting of 19 questions was conducted among 636 randomly selected students. The study showed that the Polish and German students preferred inspection of the body on their return home (86.9% and 63.5%, respectively) and wearing protective clothes (79.8% and 32.3%, respectively) as part of prophylaxis. The Thai students most often chose wearing protective clothes (54.7%) and preventive behavior in tick habitats (42.7%). Approximately 7% of the Polish medical students and as many as 22% of the German and Thai respondents did not use any means of prevention. Our analyses suggest that the use of preventive methods and respondents' behaviors depend on socio-demographic factors and the level of health education. The insufficient practical implementation of tick prevention measures by the medical students suggests a need for verification of health education programs in schools as well as effective popularization and educational activities. It is also necessary to develop a public health protection strategy against the effects of tick bites.
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