Table 1 Description of the variables measured

• Have you ever found a tick on yourself?

• Have you ever been bitten by a tick?

• Has a doctor ever diagnosed you with Lyme disease?

1 = No

2 = Yes

3 = Uncertain (I think so / I don’t think so, but I’m not sure)

• Before responding to this survey, had you ever heard of Lyme disease?

1 = No

2 = Yes

• I am going to read you four descriptions. Please tell me which one you believe best describes Lyme disease.

1 = It’s a disease transmitted through contact with other people

2 = It’s a disease transmitted through tick bites (right answer)

3 = It’s a disease transmitted through saliva

4 = It’s a disease transmitted through a dog bite

• Based on your current knowledge, the first symptom of Lyme disease is generally

1 = Diarrhea

2 = Vomiting

3 = A red plaque on the skin (right answer)

4 = Nasal congestion

5 = A persistent cough

• In your opinion, what is the risk of you contracting Lyme disease in the next year? Would you say that it is:

1 = Nil

2 = Very low

3 = Low

4 = Moderate

5 = High

6 = Very high

• Do you believe that it is possible to contract Lyme disease in your municipality?

1 = No

2 = Yes

• If you were to contract Lyme disease, would you say that the consequences for your health would be very serious?

1 = No, not at all

2 = No, not really

3 = Yes, mostly

4 = Yes, absolutely

• If a vaccine against Lyme disease were available, you would get vaccinated.

• If a vaccine against Lyme disease were available, you would get your child vaccinated

• Vaccines are a danger to your health. Do you:

1 = Strongly disagree

2 = Somewhat disagree

3 = Somewhat agree

4 = Strongly agree

Attitudes towards adopting behaviors

• Adopting behaviors that will protect you against Lyme disease in the next year will be:

1 = Very useless

2 = Slightly useless

3 = Slightly useful

4 = Very useful

Perceived behavioral control

• Do you agree that it will be easy to protect yourself against Lyme disease in the next year?

1 = Strongly disagree

2 = Somewhat disagree

3 = Somewhat agree

4 = Strongly agree

Perceived social norms

• If you adopt behaviors to protect yourself against tick bites and therefore Lyme disease in the next year, people who are important to you will support your choice.

1 = Strongly disagree

2 = Somewhat disagree

3 = Somewhat agree

4 = Strongly agree

Behavioral intentions

• You intend to adopt behaviors to protect yourself against tick bites and Lyme disease in the next year.

1 = Strongly disagree

2 = Somewhat disagree

3 = Somewhat agree

4 = Strongly agree

• Has ever looked into ways to prevent Lyme disease?

• Have you ever looked into the potential consequences of Lyme disease for your physical or mental health?

0 = No

1 = Yes

• When practicing outdoor activities, do you wear long pants and a long-sleeved sweater?

• When practicing outdoor activities, do you wear closed shoes?

• When practicing outdoor activities, do you tuck the bottom of your sweater or of your shirt into your pants?

• When practicing outdoor activities, do you tuck the bottom of your pants into your socks or boots?

• When outdoors, do you use a bug repellent (containing DEET, icaridin, or picaridin) on your clothes or the exposed parts of your body?

• When practicing outdoor activities, do you walk on cleared paths and trails, avoiding tall grass?

• When practicing outdoor activities, do you wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to check for ticks?

• After being outdoors, do you examine your body for ticks and remove them immediately?

• After being outdoors, do you examine your clothes and the items that you had with you to avoid bringing ticks into your home?

• After being outdoors, do you put your clothes in the dryer for six minutes to eliminate ticks that may be there?

1 = Never

2 = Rarely

3 = Occasionally

4 = Often

5 = Always

• Do you regularly mow your lawn or have it mown?

1 = I don’t have a lawn

2 = No

3 = Yes, less than once a week

4 = Yes, about once a week

5 = Yes, more than once a week

• How often do you maintain your lawn, for example pick up dead leaves, weeds, branches or twigs, or have them picked up? (other than mowing your lawn)

1 = Never

2 = Less than once a month

3 = Once or twice a month

4 = Once a week

5 = More than once a week