The effects of an online educational video game and a leaflet on the knowledge, perception and behavior regarding ticks and Lyme disease among school children in the Netherlands
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN15142369 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15142369 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | Game2012 |
- Submission date
- 17/10/2016
- Registration date
- 21/10/2016
- Last edited
- 27/11/2020
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common disease spread by ticks both in the United States and Europe. Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and is passed onto humans through the bite of infected ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue (extreme tiredness), and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Children in particular, are at high risk of being bitten by a tick and catching LB. Currently, there is a lack of educational tools about ticks, tick bites and LB. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of an online educational video game and a newly developed leaflet aimed to improve prevention of tick bites and LB among Dutch schoolchildren.
Who can participate?
Children aged between 9 and 13 who are in the final two years of a participating primary school.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups. Those in the first group play the computer game on their personal computer. The game involves driving around their own neighbourhood and facing five risky situations where they could be bitten by a tick. The player has to avoid being bitten and give warnings to encourage others to check for ticks. The faster the warming is given, the more points the player receives. Those in the second group are given an information leaflet containing information about ticks and Lyme disease. Those in the third group do not receive any information about ticks or Lyme disease. At the start of the study and then again 4-5 months later, participants in all groups complete a number of questionnaires in order to measure their knowledge and preventative behaviour regarding tick bites and Lyme disease.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants benefit from learning about ticks and Lyme disease, which could help them to prevent being bitten. There are no risks associated with this study.
Where is the study run from?
25 primary schools in the Netherlands.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2012 to July 2012
Who is funding the study?
Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Netherlands)
Who is the main contact?
Mrs Desirée Beaujean
Contact information
Scientific
National Institute for Health and Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu)
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Lane 9
Bilthoven
3721
Netherlands
Study information
| Study design | Three-arm cluster randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study setting(s) | School |
| Study type | Prevention |
| Participant information sheet | No participant information sheet available |
| Scientific title | Education on tick bite and Lyme disease prevention, aimed at schoolchildren in the Netherlands: comparing the effects of an online video game versus a leaflet and a control group |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of an online educational video game versus a newly developed leaflet aimed to improve prevention of tick bites and Lyme disease among Dutch schoolchildren. |
| Ethics approval(s) | This general survey among a sample of healthy children from the general population did not require formal medical ethical approval according to Dutch law (www.ccmo.nl/en). |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Lyme disease |
| Intervention | Children of these 25 schools were randomly assigned per class to one of three groups. Group 1, game group: Children play the game individually on a personal computer on a single occasion. The scenario of the online educational video game www.teekcontrol.nl is that the player drives around in one’s own neighborhood (selected by entering their postal code) and is then faced with different fictive risky situations for tick bites. An example of such a risky situation is children playing in nature and picking flowers in the bushes. The player has to chase tick bite cases across a map as quickly as possible, and while doing so emit warnings that encourage people to check for ticks. The faster the warning is emitted, the more points they earn. It is possible to play the video game individually, or in a league to become the best tick controller in town. At the end of the game, the children obtain their total score. Group 2, leaflet group: Children are given a leaflet to read, which includes information about ticks and Lyme disease. Group 3, control group: Children receive no information. At baseline and after the intervention (4-5 months) participants in all groups complete questionnaires to assess their knowledge and preventative behaviour regarding tick bites and Lyme disease. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Knowledge of tick bites and Lyme disease is measured using a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study at baseline and 4-5 months later. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Perception and preventive behavior regarding tick bites and Lyme disease is measured using a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study at baseline and 4-5 months later. |
| Overall study start date | 01/06/2012 |
| Completion date | 31/07/2012 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 9 Years |
| Upper age limit | 13 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 200 children per arm (game, leaflet and control). |
| Total final enrolment | 887 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Children aged 9-13 years 2. Attending the two final years of primary school at a participating primary school |
| Key exclusion criteria | No exclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/06/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles
Study participating centres
Spijkenisse
3204 AN
Netherlands
Utrecht
3581
Netherlands
Liedekerke
1770
Netherlands
Utrecht
3582
Netherlands
Enschede
7535
Netherlands
Grave
5361 JT
Netherlands
Doorn
3941 VR
Netherlands
Hengelo
7553
Netherlands
Hengelo
7558 DJ
Netherlands
Venlo
5913 TV
Netherlands
Tiel
4003 AL
Netherlands
Culemborg
4101
Netherlands
Amsterdam-Zuidoost
1106
Netherlands
Amstelveen
1188
Netherlands
Barger-Compascuum
7884
Netherlands
Bakhuizen
8574 TN
Netherlands
8185 KE
Elahuizen
Netherlands
Utrecht
3581 GL
Netherlands
Axel
4571 DE
Netherlands
Vlissingen
4384 EV
Netherlands
Vlissingen
4381 PP
Netherlands
Deventer
7422 NR
Netherlands
Zwolle
8044 PA
Netherlands
Westerhaar
7676 BW
Netherlands
Almelo
7606 HZ
Netherlands
Sponsor information
Government
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Lane 9
Bilthoven
3721
Netherlands
| Website | www.rivm.nl |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/01cesdt21 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, RIVM
- Location
- Netherlands
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication of this study in BMC Public Health in 2016. |
| IPD sharing plan | The current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 16/11/2016 | 27/11/2020 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
27/11/2020: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
