'You adapt, and you try not to resent it': a qualitative study exploring impacts of living with ticks and barriers to adopting preventive measures in Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lyme disease (LD) is Canada's most common tick-borne disease (TBD), with other tick-borne pathogens being detected with increasing frequency. Tick bite prevention remains the most effective preventive measure against TBDs, yet individual preventive behaviours are not always adopted by at-risk individuals. This is concerning, given that the incidence of TBDs is predicted to increase with climate change. The objectives were: (1) to understand the facilitators and barriers to adopting tick bite preventive behaviours for at-risk individuals, and (2) to explore whether adverse behaviours are developing among individuals living in LD endemic regions.

Methods

Residents of LD endemic regions were invited through social media platforms (including governmental and health au

SUBMITTER: Bowser N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12363058 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature