Implementation Science

This study aims to assess the effectiveness and implementation of tick-borne disease education and prevention activities.  It is led by Co-Investigators, Dr. Jenny Hall of Radford University and Dr. Katherine Bowman from the University of Lynchburg. 

In August 2024, Drs. Bowman and Hall offered a Teaching Tick-borne Disease Prevention professional training opportunity to ten elementary health and physical education teachers in Central Virginia. The two-hour training was successful in increasing knowledge, confidence, and skills of participants for teaching TBD prevention with their students.

 Teachers are currently implementing lessons from a Fight the Bite, Virginia tick-borne disease prevention curriculum developed by Drs. Bowman and Hall. Results will be used to improve the training, curriculum, and implementation process for future dissemination.   Access the Fight the Bite, Virginia curriculum through GoOpenVA.org 

The curriculum is currently been revised and updated based on our findings to date.  The new and improved curriculum will be available her and through GoOpenVA later this year.

In this study, we will be assessing the effectiveness and implementation of geographically tailored tick-borne disease continuing education activities for healthcare providers in Southwest Virginia.  We have partnered with Radford University's Department of Public Health and Healthcare Leadership and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) to develop continuing education resources. We are taking a One Health Approach and using data from our Lived Experience Studies to create tailored, real-world resources.

VCOM students are also planning a study with Dr. Hall's mentorship to assess a lesson with OD students using patient profiles they created with our real-world data.

Continuing education activities are n development and will be piloted by Dr. Hall in Southwest Virginia in 2025-2026.  More information for healthcare providers located in SW Virginia who would like to participate in this opportunity will be posted here when we have more information.