Oral Presentations
Location
Schewel 215
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
59
Start Date
4-6-2022 4:15 PM
End Date
4-6-2022 4:30 PM
Department
Public Health
Abstract
Background: Healthcare providers lack knowledge about tick-borne diseases related to recognition, diagnosis, treatments, and communication. With the number of ticks and types of tick-borne diseases increasing, it is vital that providers know how to effectively diagnose, manage and treat a TBD patient.
Methods: A mixed method survey was implemented in 2021 with persons diagnosed with a tick-borne disease to explore their experiences with diagnosis, management and treatment. The survey was posted on TBD social media pages and sent through email snowballing. Thematic analysis was used to code results from three open-ended questions.
Results: A total of 434 patients diagnosed with at least one of 16 tick-borne diseases from 32 states participated. Three in five patients (60.6%) were misdiagnosed at least once. Patient-provider interactions, diagnosis/testing, management/treatment, education and individualized care were the 5 major themes identified. Listening to patients and being educated on TBD diagnosis, management and treatments were top recommendations.
Conclusions: To improve patient health outcomes, providers need to be educated on tick-borne diseases and how to recognize, diagnose, manage and treat patients with a TBD. This involves believing patients, being knowledgeable of current research, sharing resources and working with each patient individually.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Jennifer Hall
Rights Statement
The right to download or print any portion of this material is granted by the copyright owner only for personal or educational use. The author/creator retains all proprietary rights, including copyright ownership. Any editing, other reproduction or other use of this material by any means requires the express written permission of the copyright owner. Except as provided above, or for any other use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the material.
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Diseases Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons
Recommendations for Providers to Improve Quality of Care & Health Outcomes for Patients with Tick-borne Diseases
Schewel 215
Background: Healthcare providers lack knowledge about tick-borne diseases related to recognition, diagnosis, treatments, and communication. With the number of ticks and types of tick-borne diseases increasing, it is vital that providers know how to effectively diagnose, manage and treat a TBD patient.
Methods: A mixed method survey was implemented in 2021 with persons diagnosed with a tick-borne disease to explore their experiences with diagnosis, management and treatment. The survey was posted on TBD social media pages and sent through email snowballing. Thematic analysis was used to code results from three open-ended questions.
Results: A total of 434 patients diagnosed with at least one of 16 tick-borne diseases from 32 states participated. Three in five patients (60.6%) were misdiagnosed at least once. Patient-provider interactions, diagnosis/testing, management/treatment, education and individualized care were the 5 major themes identified. Listening to patients and being educated on TBD diagnosis, management and treatments were top recommendations.
Conclusions: To improve patient health outcomes, providers need to be educated on tick-borne diseases and how to recognize, diagnose, manage and treat patients with a TBD. This involves believing patients, being knowledgeable of current research, sharing resources and working with each patient individually.