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

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Ticks are arthropods with the highest importance for public health. The effects of their parasitism can be limited by application of various prophylaxis methods. This study compares preventive behaviors and practices against tick bites and knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases declared by medical students from two European countries (Poland and Germany) and an Asian country (Thailand). The study revealed differences in the use of various preventive methods and practices and in the knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases declared by the respondents. The most popular preventive methods employed by the Polish and German students included inspection of the body on return home and wearing protective clothes. The Thai students chose wearing protective clothes and preventive behavior in tick habitats. Tick repellents were used by the students less frequently. Approximately 7% of the Polish medical students and 22% of the German and Thai respondents did not use any means of prevention. The insufficient knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases declared by the medical students and the unsatisfactory use of preventive methods indicates the need for education focused on threats posed to humans by biological environmental factors. It is also essential to popularize tick prophylaxis methods among the public. 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.