Tick BitesNCT06880692
The Tick App: Changing Behaviors With Educational Messaging
A study testing Educational Materials delivered via the Tick App in people with Tick Bites, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 4 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this work is to evaluate the use of ecological momentary assessments as a tool to assess risk and risk factors for tick encounters and tick-borne diseases. This study will be conducted across the United States, with a focus the upper Midwest and Northeast and with a focus on Wisconsin and will enroll up to… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Tick Bites
- What is being tested?
- Educational Materials delivered via the Tick App
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40,000 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 31 Mar 2020to Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Will to participate in 7 days worth of daily activity logs within the Tick App.
- be able and willing to provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Completes less than 7 days worth of daily logs or completes 7+ daily logs but not within 12 months.
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States4 sites, 4 recruiting
- Recruiting
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
517-353-1737, tsao@msu.edu
Jean Tsao
- Recruiting
Columbia University
New York, New York, 10027
Maria Diuk-Wasser
Heather Kopsco
- Recruiting
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington, 99164
Pilar Fernandez
- Recruiting
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois, 61801
Becky Smith
About this study
Official title: The Use of Ecological Momentary Assessments to Assess Tick-borne Disease Risk
The goal of this work is to evaluate the use of ecological momentary assessments as a tool to assess risk and risk factors for tick encounters and tick-borne diseases. This study will be conducted across the United States, with a focus the upper Midwest and Northeast and with a focus on Wisconsin and will enroll up to 1000 people.
Read the detailed description
In the United States, several online and smart-phone apps are available to ID a tick (TickID app, North Carolina State University), submit a picture of a tick (TickSpotters.org, an outreach tool within the larger TickEncounter resource center by the University of Rhode Island) or submit a tick for testing (among other public health agencies, TickReport.com by the University of Massachusetts Amherst). Although these tools are accessible throughout the U.S., they focus on the Northeast. In addition, they do not assess human behavior and tick encounters nor do these tools evaluate prevention and education strategies. A recent study in the Netherlands evaluated the use and effectiveness of a preventative and educational tick app ("Tekenbeet"). This app was well-appreciated, well-used, and improved the user's intention to implement preventative measures. This also illustrates the move of information acquisition from in-hand leaflets to information provision through smartphones.
In this study, data on human behavior regarding tick encounters and tick prevention measures will be obtained from a smartphone application using momentary assessments methodology to assess real time behavior and movement. Ecological momentary assessments are a methodological tool for gathering quantitative behavioral data in real-time, or within the framework of a participant's daily routine.
The daily logs feature provides researchers information about what the participant's activity, location, tick encounters, and prevention measures used. This study will analyze participants who complete 7 daily logs. Their daily logs will be analyzed against the types of educational messaging presented to them within the Tick App.
During a portion of the year the opening screen will contain a prevention message and daily log reminder instead of the home screen. The screen will provide a tick check reminder, a link to the daily log and for half the users the screen will also include a reminder about another prevention behavior (for example bathing/showering). Users will be randomly assigned to the two groups to assess if the additional prevention message increases prevention behavior (tick checks and showering/bathing) and the number of tick encounters.
- Conditions
- Tick Bites
- Being tested
- Educational Materials delivered via the Tick App
- Keywords
- tick education, behavior change, tick bite prevention
- Medical subject headings
- Tick Bites
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Educational Materials delivered via the Tick AppOther
Education about tick bite prevention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tick App Educational Materials | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Educational Materials delivered via the Tick App |
| No Educational Messaging | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in number of tick prevention behaviors
A goal of the intervention is to see an increase in tick prevention behaviors (tick checks and showering). To measure this, the change in number of tick prevention behaviors will be compared between groups. Data collected when participant completes 7 daily logs in app within 12 months.
Measured: up to 12 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in number of self-reported tick encounters
A goal of the intervention is to see a decrease in self-reported tick encounters. To measure this, the change in number of self-reported tick encounters will be compared between groups. Data collected when participant completes 7 daily logs in app within 12 months.
Measured: up to 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Mar 2025
- Study start31 Mar 2020
- Primary completionJul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Tick BitesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 40,000 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Illinois at Chicago, Michigan State University, Columbia University, Washington State University
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Susan Paskewitz, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, MadisonLyric Bartholomay, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06880692
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2018-0084
- Other IDs
- 1U01CK000651-01-00, Protocol Version 6/2/2026, A073600, 1U01CK000651-01
- Status last verified
- Oct 2025
- First submitted
- 11 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data collected during the trial, after the deidentification will be available to researchers for independent verification of study outcome or to conduct subsequent clinical research, whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee identified for this purpose.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Use of Ecological Momentary Assessments to Assess Tick-borne Disease Risk
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06880692
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2018-0084
- Conditions
- Tick Bites
- Keywords
- tick education, behavior change, tick bite prevention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Illinois at Chicago, Michigan State University, Columbia University, Washington State University
- Study start
- 31 Mar 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this work is to evaluate the use of ecological momentary assessments as a tool to assess risk and risk factors for tick encounters and tick-borne diseases. This study will be conducted across the United States, with a focus the upper Midwest and Northeast and with a focus on Wisconsin and will enroll up to 1000 people.
Detailed description
In the United States, several online and smart-phone apps are available to ID a tick (TickID app, North Carolina State University), submit a picture of a tick (TickSpotters.org, an outreach tool within the larger TickEncounter resource center by the University of Rhode Island) or submit a tick for testing (among other public health agencies, TickReport.com by the University of Massachusetts Amherst). Although these tools are accessible throughout the U.S., they focus on the Northeast. In addition, they do not assess human behavior and tick encounters nor do these tools evaluate prevention and education strategies. A recent study in the Netherlands evaluated the use and effectiveness of a preventative and educational tick app ("Tekenbeet"). This app was well-appreciated, well-used, and improved the user's intention to implement preventative measures. This also illustrates the move of information acquisition from in-hand leaflets to information provision through smartphones.
In this study, data on human behavior regarding tick encounters and tick prevention measures will be obtained from a smartphone application using momentary assessments methodology to assess real time behavior and movement. Ecological momentary assessments are a methodological tool for gathering quantitative behavioral data in real-time, or within the framework of a participant's daily routine.
The daily logs feature provides researchers information about what the participant's activity, location, tick encounters, and prevention measures used. This study will analyze participants who complete 7 daily logs. Their daily logs will be analyzed against the types of educational messaging presented to them within the Tick App.
During a portion of the year the opening screen will contain a prevention message and daily log reminder instead of the home screen. The screen will provide a tick check reminder, a link to the daily log and for half the users the screen will also include a reminder about another prevention behavior (for example bathing/showering). Users will be randomly assigned to the two groups to assess if the additional prevention message increases prevention behavior (tick checks and showering/bathing) and the number of tick encounters.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tick App Educational Materials | Experimental | Other: Educational Materials delivered via the Tick App |
| No Educational Messaging | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Will to participate in 7 days worth of daily activity logs within the Tick App.
- be able and willing to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Completes less than 7 days worth of daily logs or completes 7+ daily logs but not within 12 months.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Materials delivered via the Tick AppEducation about tick bite prevention | Other | Tick App Educational Materials |
Primary outcome
Change in number of tick prevention behaviors
Time frame: up to 12 months
A goal of the intervention is to see an increase in tick prevention behaviors (tick checks and showering). To measure this, the change in number of tick prevention behaviors will be compared between groups. Data collected when participant completes 7 daily logs in app within 12 months.
1 secondary outcome
Change in number of self-reported tick encounters
Time frame: up to 12 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Aug 2026.
- The Tick AppLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data collected during the trial, after the deidentification will be available to researchers for independent verification of study outcome or to conduct subsequent clinical research, whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee identified for this purpose.
Related trials for Tick Bites
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Susan Paskewitz principal investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lyric Bartholomay principal investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Educational Materials delivered via the Tick App in people with Tick Bites, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 4 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Cassie Halvorsen (608-265-4741, chalvorsen2@wisc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in number of tick prevention behaviors (time frame: up to 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Aug 2026.