Table 8 Internal consistency of different psychosocial determinants, and their corresponding items

Perceived severity

 1. If I were to sustain a tick bite, I would be worried about the possible consequences.

 2. If I were to sustain a tick bite, I would expect this to have a serious impact on my health.

 3. If I were to sustain a tick bite, I would expect to suffer from the consequences for quite a long time.

3

Ω=.90

Perceived susceptibility

 1. How do you assess the chance that you will be bitten by a tick in the next year?

 2. How likely do you think it is that you will be diagnosed with Lyme Disease in the next year?

2

Ω=.56

Self-efficacy

 1. I am capable of recognizing a tick on my body.

 2. I am capable of checking my skin for tick bites after I have ventured outdoors.

 3. I am capable of removing a tick from my skin using pointed tweezers (or a different kind of tick remover).

 4. I am capable of writing down place and date that the tick bite occurred.

 5. I am capable to visit a GP if a tick has been on my body for over 24 hours.

5

Ω=.72

Response efficacy

 1. Recognizing a tick when checking your body will help preventing Lyme disease.

 2. Checking for ticks after every outdoor venture will help preventing Lyme disease.

 3. Removing a tick immediately using pointed tweezers (or a different kind of tick remover) will help prevent Lyme disease.

 4. Writing down place and date when the tick bite occurred will help prevent Lyme disease.

 5. Visiting a GP if a tick has been stuck on the skin for over 24 hours will help prevent Lyme disease.

5

Ω=.80

Intention

 1. I am planning to check my skin for ticks after every outdoor venture.

 2. If I discover a tick bite on my body, I am planning to remove the tick immediately.

 3. If I discover a tick bite on my body, I am planning to note the place of the bite and the date it occurred.

 4. I am planning to visit a GP if a tick has been stuck on my skin for over 24 hours.

4

Ω=.69