[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62864-62865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29865]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research


Availability of Draft Clinical Practice Guideline on Smoking 
Cessation for Pre-Publication Review

agency: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

action: Notice.

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summary: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) 
announces the availability of a draft AHCPR-sponsored clinical practice 
guideline on smoking cessation for pre-publication review. This 
guideline is being produced by a multidisciplinary private-sector panel 
of experts convened by AHCPR. The expert panel will not respond to 
individual comments but will consider all comments in determining 
revisions to the guideline. Individuals interested in obtaining a copy 
of the draft guideline for review must agree not to disclose its 
content to the public prior to its publication by AHCPR.

dates: Comments must be postmarked by January 4, 1996.

supplementary information: The Agency for Health Care Policy and 
Research is responsible for the development of clinical practice 
guidelines that may be used by physicians, other health care 
practitioners, educators, and consumers to assist in determining how 
diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can most effectively 
and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and clinically 
managed. The AHCPR facilitates the development of guidelines by 
establishing private-sector panels who are responsible for their 
content.
    A private-sector panel of health care experts and consumers was 
formed in May, 1994 to develop a clinical practice guideline to improve 
the effectiveness of smoking cessation activities. A public meeting was 
also held in November, 1994 for the panel to receive comments and 
information relevant to development of the guideline. The panel has 
reviewed and synthesized the literature on this topic and drafted a set 
of conclusions and recommendations based on the best available 
scientific data and expert judgment.
    A draft of these conclusions and recommendations is now undergoing 
peer review by a substantial number of individuals and groups who are 
knowledgeable about smoking cessation programs and related activities. 
With this notice, the panel and AHCPR are also making the draft 
guideline available to any person who wishes to review and comment on 
it, so long as the person agrees to honor the confidentiality of this 
draft (as specified below).
    After review of all comments received, the panel will revise the 
draft guideline and prepare the clinical practice guideline on smoking 
cessation.
    Potential reviewers should note that AHCPR may disclose the names 
of the guideline reviewers at the same time the guideline is published. 
The AHCPR may also release the review comments after the guideline is 
published. However, the comments will not be attributed to specific 
reviewers.

Confidentiality Statement for Reviewers

    During the review process, and until published by AHCPR, the 
guideline is confidential. It may not be quoted, distributed, or copied 
without the prior written consent of the panel chair.
    All requests for the draft guideline must include the following 
confidentiality statement signed by the requestor:

    In order to protect the integrity of the panel's deliberative 
process and its final product, I agree that: I will not release, 
publicly present, publish, have published, or otherwise disseminate 
any portion of the draft Smoking Cessation guideline.

Signature--------------------------------------------------------------

Date-------------------------------------------------------------------

Affiliation------------------------------------------------------------

Name (printed or typed)------------------------------------------------

Request for Draft Guideline

    To receive a copy of the draft guideline, requests must include: 
Requestor's name; Affiliation (business or organization); Address 
(including zip code); Telephone and Fax numbers; Signed confidentiality 
statement; and Information on reviewer's computer resources, if 
applicable, (needed to 

[[Page 62865]]
ascertain ability to use a computerized program for guideline review).
    Written requests, together with the signed confidentiality 
statement, should be mailed to: Cheryl Campbell, Panel Manager; 
Technical Resources International, Inc. (TRI), 3202 Tower Oaks 
Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20852-4200. (Fax number: (301) 231-
6377.) If faxing the request, the original signed confidentiality 
statement must also be mailed.
    Automated review process: A computerized guideline review process, 
supported by AHCPR, enables comments to be entered on a specially 
formatted diskette. A diskette will be furnished, with instructions, to 
those requesting the draft guideline. To facilitate the review process, 
it is recommended that reviewers use the computer diskette to record 
their comments. Reviewers who do not use a diskette will be asked to 
provide typewritten comments.
    Requests for a copy of the draft guideline should include the 
following information regarding the computer system to be used for 
reviewing the guideline: Type of computer: IBM/compatible or Macintosh; 
and if IBM/compatible: the size of disk drive (3.5'' or 5.25'').
    For technical assistance or questions regarding computer resources, 
call the Guideline Review Technical Support at (301) 231-5250 ext. 100 
and ask for Ms. Cheryl Campbell.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Additional information on the guideline 
development process is contained in the AHCPR Program Note, ``Clinical 
Practice Guideline Development,'' (AHCPR Publication No. 93-0023) dated 
August 1993.
    This document may be obtained from the AHCPR Publications 
Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 8547, Silver Spring, MD 20907; or call toll-
free: 1-800-358-9295.

    Dated: December 1, 1995.
Clifton R. Gaus,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-29865 Filed 12-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M