PRECAUTIONS TAKEN AGAINST LYME-DISEASE AT 3 RECREATIONAL PARKS IN ENDEMIC AREAS OF NEW-JERSEY

Visitors to three recreational parks located in Lyme disease endemic c ounties in New Jersey were surveyed to assess public awareness of reco mmended precautions against tick bites and how these precautions are b eing adopted. Interviews were conducted with 178 adult respondents. in open-ended questions, 84% of the respondents could name at least one precaution against Lyme disease; however, only 43% reported taking any precautions. Taking precaution was associated with the belief that a person they knew with Lyme disease was bitten by a tick while in a pla ce frequented by the respondent; and with the belief that Lyme disease is difficult to cure. Precaution adoption was not associated with gen der or with measures of personal experience with Lyme disease, perceiv ed seriousness of the disease, attitudes about and personal experience s with ticks, beliefs that there are infected ticks in the park, or th e perceived costs and benefits of taking precautions. These results em phasize the importance of getting people to practice the precautions t hey already know about, and helping people to recognize situations whe re taking precautions is appropriate.