Tick BitesNCT07756606
Evaluating the Impacts of Informal Tick and Tickborne Disease Educational Tools on Children
A study testing Tick check mannequin, Ticks on bagel and LEGO Build-a-Tick in people with Tick Bites, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of informal educational tools used by the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Children aged 6-12 will receive an educational activity about ticks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 12 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Tick Bites
- What is being tested?
- Tick check mannequin, Ticks on bagel and LEGO Build-a-Tick
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,000 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 18 Oct 2026to May 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 6 to 12 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- children aged 6-12 years old
Who cannot join
- less than 6 years old or greater than 12 years old
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Outreach Sites
Madison, Wisconsin, 53705
About this study
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of informal educational tools used by the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Children aged 6-12 will receive an educational activity about ticks. They will be asked questions before and after the activity and will participate for between 10-20 minutes.
Read the detailed description
Children will be asked to complete a "before" survey which will include a drawing of a tick and some questions asking about their attitudes towards ticks.
They will then complete an educational activity about ticks, and an "after" survey including another drawing and some survey questions.
The parent or guardian will fill out a short survey of background information while the child participates in the study.
- Conditions
- Tick Bites
- Being tested
- Tick check mannequin, Ticks on bagel, LEGO Build-a-Tick
- Keywords
- education, children, 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.
Tick check mannequinOther
Also called educational activity
Nymphal and adult blacklegged ticks are glued to the mannequins to mimic potential acquisition or attachment sites. At outreach events, participants are invited to perform a thorough tick check on the mannequin. This activity helps participants identify the different life stages of the blacklegged tick and understand the size differences between nymphal and adult ticks. The "tick check" mannequins also wear both light and dark-colored clothing to show how clothing color affects tick detection.
Ticks on bagelOther
Also called educational activity
Adult and nymphal blacklegged ticks are glued to an "everything" bagel. The bagel is covered in sesame and poppy seeds, which is the comparison commonly used to describe the size of adult and nymphal blacklegged ticks, respectively. Participants are then invited to search the bagel for ticks. The activity demonstrates the size differences between the adult and nymphal life stages and the proper search image for finding nymphs during a tick check.
LEGO Build-a-TickOther
Also called educational activity
The LEGO tick is an activity that leverages play-based learning to increase awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases, and it has the potential to significantly enhance our educational efforts by increasing engagement. This Build-a-Tick Kit is comprised of 83 LEGO bricks and offers a hands-on learning experience with multiple learning outcomes. Participants learn about the various morphological parts of a blacklegged tick during the building experience, such as the mouth parts and their function in disease transmission, the number of legs, and the body shapes and colors for an adult blacklegged tick. Additional information on ticks and tick-borne diseases is incorporated into the building instructions included in the Build-a-Tick Kit.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Children 6-12 years old | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Tick check mannequin; Other: Ticks on bagel; Other: LEGO Build-a-Tick |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Tick Education Survey Score
A survey delivered to children before and after an educational activity about ticks. 7 items scored on a 4-point likert scale. Total possible range of scores from [7-21] where higher scores indicate increased understanding about ticks.
Measured: before activity, after activity (up to 20 minutes)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Time Taken to Complete Activity
Measured: up to 20 minutes
Overall score on post-knowledge survey
Participants will be quizzed and percent correct will be reported.
Measured: up to 20 minutes
Participant Engagement (semi-observational)
Participants will be surveyed for their post-activity feedback. Emergent themes will be summarized by participant count.
Measured: up to 20 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Aug 2026
- Study start18 Oct 2026
- Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 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.
- More trials run by University of Wisconsin, MadisonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 1,000 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Susan Paskewitz, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07756606
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-1035
- Other IDs
- 1U01CK000651, Protocol Version 10/27/26, CALS | Entomology
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluating the Impacts of Informal Tick and Tickborne Disease Educational Tools on Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07756606
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2026-1035
- Conditions
- Tick Bites
- Keywords
- education, children, prevention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 1,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Study start
- 18 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Aug 2026 (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 purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of informal educational tools used by the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Children aged 6-12 will receive an educational activity about ticks. They will be asked questions before and after the activity and will participate for between 10-20 minutes.
Detailed description
Children will be asked to complete a "before" survey which will include a drawing of a tick and some questions asking about their attitudes towards ticks.
They will then complete an educational activity about ticks, and an "after" survey including another drawing and some survey questions.
The parent or guardian will fill out a short survey of background information while the child participates in the study.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Children 6-12 years old | Experimental | Other: Tick check mannequin, Other: Ticks on bagel, Other: LEGO Build-a-Tick |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- children aged 6-12 years old
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- less than 6 years old or greater than 12 years old
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tick check mannequinAlso: educational activityNymphal and adult blacklegged ticks are glued to the mannequins to mimic potential acquisition or attachment sites. At outreach events, participants are invited to perform a thorough tick check on the mannequin. This activity helps participants identify the different life stages of the blacklegged tick and understand the size differences between nymphal and adult ticks. The "tick check" mannequins also wear both light and dark-colored clothing to show how clothing color affects tick detection. | Other | Children 6-12 years old |
| Ticks on bagelAlso: educational activityAdult and nymphal blacklegged ticks are glued to an "everything" bagel. The bagel is covered in sesame and poppy seeds, which is the comparison commonly used to describe the size of adult and nymphal blacklegged ticks, respectively. Participants are then invited to search the bagel for ticks. The activity demonstrates the size differences between the adult and nymphal life stages and the proper search image for finding nymphs during a tick check. | Other | Children 6-12 years old |
| LEGO Build-a-TickAlso: educational activityThe LEGO tick is an activity that leverages play-based learning to increase awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases, and it has the potential to significantly enhance our educational efforts by increasing engagement. This Build-a-Tick Kit is comprised of 83 LEGO bricks and offers a hands-on learning experience with multiple learning outcomes. Participants learn about the various morphological parts of a blacklegged tick during the building experience, such as the mouth parts and their function in disease transmission, the number of legs, and the body shapes and colors for an adult blacklegged tick. Additional information on ticks and tick-borne diseases is incorporated into the building instructions included in the Build-a-Tick Kit. | Other | Children 6-12 years old |
Primary outcome
Tick Education Survey Score
Time frame: before activity, after activity (up to 20 minutes)
A survey delivered to children before and after an educational activity about ticks. 7 items scored on a 4-point likert scale. Total possible range of scores from [7-21] where higher scores indicate increased understanding about ticks.
3 secondary outcomes
Time Taken to Complete Activity
Time frame: up to 20 minutes
Overall score on post-knowledge survey
Time frame: up to 20 minutes
Participant Engagement (semi-observational)
Time frame: up to 20 minutes
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 5 Nov 2026.
- Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne DiseaseLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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, PhD principal investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tick check mannequin, Ticks on bagel and LEGO Build-a-Tick in people with Tick Bites, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site 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 1 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 5 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site 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?
Tick Education Survey Score (time frame: before activity, after activity (up to 20 minutes)). 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 5 Nov 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.