Increasing awareness of and education about bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, as a public health issue in Hawai’i

Bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) are a severe public health issue, impacting those affected financially, physically and emotionally. Methods to eradicate an existing bed bug infestation are difficult and costly. The recent large-scale dispersal of bed bugs has received considerable attention, prompting numerous sources to report on the upward trend and its consequences. Humans, many unknowingly, represent a major contributor to the resurgence in bed bug infestations due to our faster and more frequent worldwide mobility, especially in tourism. This study sought to provide evidence of the lack of knowledge and ability to identify bed bugs in Hawaii. Efforts were also focused on raising the self-efficacy among the adult population in Hawaii on the topic of bed bugs. The need for education was determined by conducting an identification survey to the general adult population in Hawaii. Educational seminars were given promoting awareness of bed bug reemergence and how to reduce their spread. A hands-on exercise was provided to engage members in the form of experiential learning, a method proven effective in adult education.  Accurate identification of an adult bed bug in a vial was only 29%, justifying the need for education. 57% of respondents reported an increase in their ability to identify and 67% increased in knowledge of bed bugs after attending the educational seminar, while the searching participants exhibited an increase in searching time. Providing education is a cost-effective primary prevention measure to help combat the spread of bed bugs by educating  the “unknowing” population that contributes toward their dispersal.