Clive Boase reviewed the state of bed bug awareness and best practice literature last summer for International Pest Control (article not available online).
Boase, Clive (2009) Bedbugs – Information Upsurge. International Pest Control 51:4. 181-184
He raises the issue of effectiveness:
To date, very limited evaluation of the success of these resources in terms of raising awareness, changing practice, or improving outcomes, is available. In London, evaluation of different techniques for encouraging tenants to prepare their homes for treatment showed that provision of paper guidance supported by a pre-treatment visit, was much more effective than verbal communication by telephone.
In other sectors, such as mosquito source reduction, studies have shown that the response to different information formats (e.g. text, black and white illustrations, colour illustrations) varies according to socio-economic group, and understanding these differences has enabled public information to become more targeted and effective.
This is the crux of it all, isn’t it? Does any of it work? I have my own favorites among the nicely-proliferating bed bug management and awareness guides in the U.S. and abroad but I always have that moment of hesitation when someone asks for guidance. Which one do I recommend for this person in this circumstance? Will they read 20 pages of x? Will they benefit from the tips in y? I have spent countless hours on our resources page for this reason. Some of the best resources, I realize, are never going to be read by the people who need them most. One of the best in this category (for an audience of medical and home care professionals) is this one (PDF). I can bet that you’ve never actually read it, have you? I know I’ve recommended it to some of you!
For the general public there is such a need for very precise targeting of information. There is nothing worse than encountering page after page of basic awareness information when what is needed is some very bold and useful practical advice. Indeed, the only thing worse than that must be the misguided and incorrect practical advice that disappointingly fills the vacuum left by the restraint of authoritative sources. And of course the in-name-only authoritative sources which do substantially more harm than good.
And then there is the question of delivery and adoption.
Anyway, Boase made me think about the quite rich literature of vector prevention education in disadvantaged communities. Perhaps we can mine it for ideas. More later.
These pages may be of related interest:
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