You are invited to take part in a survey to help us learn more about what people know and think about diseases that are spread by ticks and mosquitoes. This study is being conducted by the researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School on the Duluth Campus. The goal is to understand how people feel about these diseases and how much they know about how to protect themselves.
What is the Purpose of the Study?
The purpose of this survey is to learn more about:
- What people know about tick and mosquito-borne diseases.
- People's attitudes about tick and mosquito-borne diseases.
- How people protect themselves from these diseases.
We will collect answers from Minnesota and Wisconsin residents aged 16 and up who visit the Minnesota State Fair or the Beltrami, Rock, and Cass County Fairs in 2025, as well as from those who complete the survey online at the Ixodes Outreach Project website. We expect about 1200 responses to the survey. These data will be presented at conferences and published, but not directly shared with participants.
What Will You Be Asked to Do?
If you agree to participate, you will answer a series of questions about your knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about tick and mosquito-borne diseases. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.
The questions will ask about things like:
- Your general knowledge of how these diseases spread.
- Your thoughts on the risk of getting diseases from ticks and mosquitoes.
- The actions you take to avoid these diseases.
Voluntary Participation
Taking part in this survey is completely up to you. You can choose not to participate, or you can stop at any time, even after you have started. If you decide to stop, you will not face any negative consequences.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Your answers will be kept private. We will not ask for your name or any personal information that can identify you.
Possible Risks and Benefits
There are no major risks to taking this survey. The questions are simple and should not make you feel uncomfortable.
There are no direct benefits to you for participating, but your answers will help us learn more about how people think and feel about tick and mosquito-borne diseases. If you are taking this survey in person at a fair, you will receive a UMN branded bag.
Completing this survey can help us create better programs to protect people in the future and inform future research directions.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this survey or about your rights as a participant, you can contact us at:
- Email: smoni002@d.umn.edu
- Phone: 218-726-7911
Agreement to Participate
By completing this survey, you are agreeing to take part in this study. If you choose not to participate, that is okay too.
Thank you for considering being a part of this important project! Your answers will help make a difference in public health.
You will be offered a copy of this document for your records.
D2D2025consent_full.pdf