Usability and Feasibility of a Smartphone App to Assess Human Behavioral Factors Associated with Tick Exposure (The Tick App): Quantitative and Qualitative Study

Fernández, María del Pilar; Bron, Gebbiena M.; Kache, Pallavi A; Larson, Scott R; Maus, Adam; Gustafson, David H.; Tsao, Jean I.; Bartholomay, Lyric C.; Paskewitz, Susan M.; Diuk‐Wasser, Maria A.

doi:10.2196/14769

Cited by 35 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…As we continue to grapple with tick-borne diseases, we need to supplement our processes to match the changing and growing needs. Citizen science tick collections and other collection methods, such as mobile smartphone application-based citizen science programs (e.g., The Tick App [68]) and photographic identification of passively collected ticks (e.g., TickSpotters [69]), have the potential to fulfill this need and allow for a variety of questions to be answered that relate to human exposure, clinical case data, and species distributions. Changing ecological conditions will result in an inevitable shift in tick and disease patterns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting the current and future distribution of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, across the Western US using citizen science collections

et al. 2021

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In the twenty-first century, ticks and tick-borne diseases have expanded their ranges and impact across the US. With this spread, it has become vital to monitor vector and disease distributions, as these shifts have public health implications. Typically, tick-borne disease surveillance (e.g., Lyme disease) is passive and relies on case reports, while disease risk is calculated using active surveillance, where researchers collect ticks from the environment. Case reports provide the basis for estimating the number of cases; however, they provide minimal information on vector population or pathogen dynamics. Active surveillance monitors ticks and sylvatic pathogens at local scales, but it is resource-intensive. As a result, data are often sparse and aggregated across time and space to increase statistical power to model or identify range changes. Engaging public participation in surveillance efforts allows spatially and temporally diverse samples to be collected with minimal effort. These citizen-driven tick collections have the potential to provide a powerful tool for tracking vector and pathogen changes. We used MaxEnt species distribution models to predict the current and future distribution of Ixodes pacificus across the Western US through the use of a nationwide citizen science tick collection program. Here, we present niche models produced through citizen science tick collections over two years. Despite obvious limitations with citizen science collections, the models are consistent with previously-predicted species ranges in California that utilized more than thirty years of traditional surveillance data. Additionally, citizen science allows for an expanded understanding of I. pacificus distribution in Oregon and Washington. With the potential for rapid environmental changes instigated by a burgeoning human population and rapid climate change, the development of tools, concepts, and methodologies that provide rapid, current, and accurate assessment of important ecological qualities will be invaluable for monitoring and predicting disease across time and space.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting the current and future distribution of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, across the Western US using citizen science collections

et al. 2021

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“…The Tick App was developed by the Midwest and Northeast Centers of Excellence for Vector-borne Diseases in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin – Madison Center for Health Enhancement System Studies (CHESS) to serve as a research tool to better understand human behaviors affecting tick exposure and engage the general public in active tick prevention across the United States (Fernandez et al, 2019). As a research tool, it includes epidemiological surveys and allows for real-time assessment of people’s locations and activities (Fernandez et al, 2019).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies assessing human behavioral risk factors have mostly been local (among others: Connally et al, 2009; Orloski et al, 1998; Smith et al, 2001; Vázquez et al, 2008), precluding regional comparisons. To overcome this limitation, we developed a smartphone application, The Tick App, to conduct standardized surveys on human exposure and behavior across regions in a cost-efficient manner (Fernandez et al, 2019). Study participants self-administered a survey on the behavioral and environmental risk factors of contracting tick-borne diseases, thus providing new insights into drivers of human risk that are superimposed on or interact with the hazard.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context matters: Contrasting behavioral and residential risk factors for Lyme disease between two high-incidence regions in the Northeastern and Midwestern U.S

MdP

Larson

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The dynamics of zoonotic vector-borne diseases are determined by a complex set of parameters including human behavior that may vary with socio-ecological contexts. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and the Northeast and upper Midwest are the regions most affected - two areas with differing levels of urbanization and sociocultural settings. The probability of being diagnosed with Lyme disease is related to the risk of encounters with an infected blacklegged tick, which reflects both the environmental tick hazard and human behaviors. Herein, we compare behavioral and peridomestic risk factors associated with human-tick encounters between high-incidence states in the Northeast (New York and New Jersey) and Midwest (Wisconsin) of the United States. We used a smartphone application, The Tick App, as a novel survey tool, during spring and summer of 2018. Adaptive human behavior was identified in the relationship between outdoor activities and the use of preventive methods. More frequent recreational outdoor activities and gardening (a peridomestic activity) were associated with an increased likelihood of using personal protective measures. Weekly participation in non-seasonal recreational and peridomestic outdoor activities in spring and summer was associated with an increased likelihood of finding a tick in the fall or winter. Most outdoor activities were more frequently reported by participants from the Midwest than the Northeast. Participants in the Northeast reported less use of personal protective measures, but they reported more interventions to reduce the presence of peridomestic deer and ticks (i.e. pesticide applications on their property) than participants in the Midwest. Participants from the Midwest were more likely to kill rodents on their property. Context mattered, and our study illustrates the need for the assessment of personal behavior and tick exposure in these two Lyme disease-endemic regions to aid in targeted public health messaging to reduce tick-borne diseases.

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“…Similarly, the engagement of citizen science also led to the acquisition of human behavioral data associated with tick exposure ( Fernandez et al 2019 ). Through the use of a smartphone application, The Tick App ( https://thetickapp.org/ ) enrolled almost 1,500 users to collect information from May to September of 2018 regarding location, pet ownership, and the engagement in outdoor activities ( Fernandez et al 2019 ). This initial survey provided tick identification services and a diary function for users to record their daily functions that led to tick encounters ( Fernandez et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Citizen Science In Medical Entomologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Through the use of a smartphone application, The Tick App ( https://thetickapp.org/ ) enrolled almost 1,500 users to collect information from May to September of 2018 regarding location, pet ownership, and the engagement in outdoor activities ( Fernandez et al 2019 ). This initial survey provided tick identification services and a diary function for users to record their daily functions that led to tick encounters ( Fernandez et al 2019 ). Through this interface, the analysis of these human activities could better inform public health interventions to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease.…”

Section: Citizen Science In Medical Entomologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Highlights in Medical Entomology, 2019: Familiar Foes and New Frontiers

Smith

2020

Journal of Medical Entomology

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The 2019 Entomological Society of America annual meeting was held in St. Louis, Missouri, just blocks away from the iconic Gateway Arch. Representing a ‘gateway to the West’, this inspired the theme of the Highlights in Medical Entomology to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year as we move into a ‘new frontier’ of vector biology research. Papers were selected broadly across arthropods that influence public health, focusing on topics ranging from West Nile virus transmission, ticks and tick-borne disease, to advances in genetics and ‘big data’ studies. This included current perspectives on West Nile virus ecology and epidemiology, which has now been endemic in the United States for 20 yr. Additional topics such as the advantages of citizen science and the importance of scientific communication were also discussed. Together, these papers demonstrate the achievements of the vector community while emphasizing the challenges that we collectively face to reduce the burden of vector-borne disease.

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Usability and Feasibility of a Smartphone App to Assess Human Behavioral Factors Associated with Tick Exposure (The Tick App): Quantitative and Qualitative Study

Cited by 35 publications

References 41 publications

Predicting the current and future distribution of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, across the Western US using citizen science collections

Predicting the current and future distribution of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, across the Western US using citizen science collections

Context matters: Contrasting behavioral and residential risk factors for Lyme disease between two high-incidence regions in the Northeastern and Midwestern U.S

Highlights in Medical Entomology, 2019: Familiar Foes and New Frontiers

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