Work

Development and validation of a novel scale to evaluate dog owners' knowledge and awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ticks and tick-borne diseases represent a serious public health concern, posing significant risks to both human and animal health. Dogs can host a wide range of tick species, many of which serve as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. In this methodological study, we generated a 23-item pool and evaluated it with eight experts to establish content validity. After a preliminary pilot test to ensure item clarity, the draft scale was administered to 100 dog owners visiting a veterinary clinic in Istanbul. Content validity was assessed using Lawshe's method, construct validity was examined through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses, and reliability was evaluated using item–total correlations and Cronbach's alpha. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 24.0, with p < .05 considered significant. Item–total correlation analysis resulted in the removal of four items with coefficients below 0.30, while the remaining items showed acceptable values ranging from 0.381 to 0.634. After refinement based on reliability and factor-analytic criteria, the final 17-item scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). Descriptive analyses indicated that the lowest awareness levels were associated with personal protective measures against tick exposure.

Source: One Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101615