Table 1.
Description of the variables measured
| Variables | Questions/Items | Response options |
|---|---|---|
| Lyme disease exposure | ||
|
• Have you ever found a tick on yourself? • Have you ever been bitten by a tick? • Has a doctor ever diagnosed you with Lyme disease? |
1 = No 2 = Yes 3 = Uncertain (I think so / I don’t think so, but I’m not sure) |
|
| Knowledge of the disease | ||
| • Before responding to this survey, had you ever heard of Lyme disease? |
1 = No 2 = Yes |
|
| • I am going to read you four descriptions. Please tell me which one you believe best describes Lyme disease. |
1 = It’s a disease transmitted through contact with other people 2 = It’s a disease transmitted through tick bites (right answer) 3 = It’s a disease transmitted through saliva 4 = It’s a disease transmitted through a dog bite |
|
| • Based on your current knowledge, the first symptom of Lyme disease is generally |
1 = Diarrhea 2 = Vomiting 3 = A red plaque on the skin (right answer) 4 = Nasal congestion 5 = A persistent cough |
|
| Risk perception | ||
| • In your opinion, what is the risk of you contracting Lyme disease in the next year? Would you say that it is: |
1 = Nil 2 = Very low 3 = Low 4 = Moderate 5 = High 6 = Very high |
|
| • Do you believe that it is possible to contract Lyme disease in your municipality? |
1 = No 2 = Yes |
|
| Vulnerability | ||
| • If you were to contract Lyme disease, would you say that the consequences for your health would be very serious? |
1 = No, not at all 2 = No, not really 3 = Yes, mostly 4 = Yes, absolutely |
|
| Opinions on vaccines | ||
|
• If a vaccine against Lyme disease were available, you would get vaccinated. • If a vaccine against Lyme disease were available, you would get your child vaccinated • Vaccines are a danger to your health. Do you: |
1 = Strongly disagree 2 = Somewhat disagree 3 = Somewhat agree 4 = Strongly agree |
|
| Theory of planned behavior constructs | ||
| Attitudes towards adopting behaviors | • Adopting behaviors that will protect you against Lyme disease in the next year will be: |
1 = Very useless 2 = Slightly useless 3 = Slightly useful 4 = Very useful |
| Perceived behavioral control | • Do you agree that it will be easy to protect yourself against Lyme disease in the next year? |
1 = Strongly disagree 2 = Somewhat disagree 3 = Somewhat agree 4 = Strongly agree |
| Perceived social norms | • If you adopt behaviors to protect yourself against tick bites and therefore Lyme disease in the next year, people who are important to you will support your choice. |
1 = Strongly disagree 2 = Somewhat disagree 3 = Somewhat agree 4 = Strongly agree |
| Behavioral intentions | • You intend to adopt behaviors to protect yourself against tick bites and Lyme disease in the next year. |
1 = Strongly disagree 2 = Somewhat disagree 3 = Somewhat agree 4 = Strongly agree |
| Preventive behaviorsa | ||
|
• Has ever looked into ways to prevent Lyme disease? • Have you ever looked into the potential consequences of Lyme disease for your physical or mental health? |
0 = No 1 = Yes |
|
|
• When practicing outdoor activities, do you wear long pants and a long-sleeved sweater? • When practicing outdoor activities, do you wear closed shoes? • When practicing outdoor activities, do you tuck the bottom of your sweater or of your shirt into your pants? • When practicing outdoor activities, do you tuck the bottom of your pants into your socks or boots? • When outdoors, do you use a bug repellent (containing DEET, icaridin, or picaridin) on your clothes or the exposed parts of your body? • When practicing outdoor activities, do you walk on cleared paths and trails, avoiding tall grass? • When practicing outdoor activities, do you wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to check for ticks? • After being outdoors, do you examine your body for ticks and remove them immediately? • After being outdoors, do you examine your clothes and the items that you had with you to avoid bringing ticks into your home? • After being outdoors, do you put your clothes in the dryer for six minutes to eliminate ticks that may be there? |
1 = Never 2 = Rarely 3 = Occasionally 4 = Often 5 = Always |
|
| • Do you regularly mow your lawn or have it mown? |
1 = I don’t have a lawn 2 = No 3 = Yes, less than once a week 4 = Yes, about once a week 5 = Yes, more than once a week |
|
| • How often do you maintain your lawn, for example pick up dead leaves, weeds, branches or twigs, or have them picked up? (other than mowing your lawn) |
1 = Never 2 = Less than once a month 3 = Once or twice a month 4 = Once a week 5 = More than once a week |
|
a All of these preventive behaviors were used to create and validate an index of LDPB