[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 41633-41635] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-20322] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [INFO-96-21] Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques for other forms of information technology. Send comments to Wilma Johnson, CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Proposed Projects 1. Studies of Immunotoxicity in Occupational Groups--(0920-0333)-- Extension--A number of chemicals to which U.S. workers are potentially exposed, including metals such as lead and beryllium and solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, have been found to be immunotoxic in experimental animals. There is little data on immunosuppression, hypersensitivity or autoimmune disease in workers exposed to chemicals that are immunotoxic in experimental animals. NIOSH has undertaken a coordinated series of studies to focus on immune-system effects related to specific chemical exposures in the workplace. In the previous three years, NIOSH conducted studies of lead and egg protein exposed workers. In this extension of the program, it is anticipated that up to five additional research studies will be conducted [[Page 41634]] under this program. Examples of chemicals for which studies are being considered are latex, silica and solvents. In most of these studies, the immune function of a group of workers exposed to the chemical of interest, and not exposed to any other known or potential immunotoxins, will be compared to the immune function in a group of individuals with no occupational exposure to known or suspected immunotoxins. In some studies, the immune function in a group of individuals will be compared before and after they have exposure to the potential immunotoxin. The primary information collected will be data on the level of exposure to the potential immunotoxin (as measured in the air in the breathing zone of the respondent, and/or in the respondent's blood or urine) and data on specific markers of the status of the immune system from blood or saliva samples provided by the subjects. The questionnaire data will be directed at demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors (other than the exposure or condition of interest) which may influence the function of the immune system. In selected studies, the questionnaire will be used to assess the presence of respiratory symptoms, dermatologic conditions and/or reproductive effects, if the literature indicates a potential relationship to these health problems. Study populations will be identified through telephone contact and follow-up site visits (if needed) with workplace facilities that use the chemical of interest. The total cost to respondents is estimated at $7,500. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Number of Number of burden/ Total Respondents respondents responses/ response burden (in respondent (in hours) hours) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Workers..................................................... 300 1 1 300 Companies................................................... 10 1 1 10 --------------------------------------------------- Total................................................. ........... ........... ........... 310 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Feasibility Study of a State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey--New--This is a request to conduct a feasibility study in three States of an integrated survey to collect broad State-based health and health-related data using two existing and ongoing data collection systems, the National Immunization Survey (NIS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (0920-0214). The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the potential for using random-digit-dialing (RDD) methods to sample households for Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) to produce quick turnaround State-level estimates on issues such as health status, access to care, health insurance coverage, and utilization of services for monitoring and tracking changes in the health care system. As health care markets respond to new incentives and States gain increasing responsibility for administering health and welfare programs, State level data are being recognized as increasingly important to the public health and health policy community. While considerable population-based data are available at the national level, there is a variable amount at the State level. The proposed strategy of building on two established systems provides several advantages. It is less costly than establishing a new system; the proposed questions have been thoroughly tested; and implementation can occur rapidly. In the NIS, interviews are conducted on a random sample of telephone households to produce vaccination coverage estimates for children 19 to 35 months of age for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 27 urban areas. The NIS CATI system offers a mechanism for rapid data collection and for expansion to establish a more broad based system to monitor and track changes in health status, the health care system, and welfare reform at the State level. In addition, since the design for the NIS requires screening 20 households to identify a single household with an age eligible child, a potential cost effective opportunity exists to make use of the large probability sample of telephone numbers for other emerging health care issues. The NHIS is a continuous general purpose national health survey in which face-to-face interviews are conducted to measure health characteristics of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Use of an abbreviated set of questions from the NHIS for the proposed integrated telephone survey will allow for standardization of the questionnaire across States and will allow comparisons with national data. In addition, the quality of the estimates developed from the telephone survey can be improved with adjustments for nontelephone households using information from the NHIS on telephone and nontelephone households. The long term strategy is to build an integrated and coordinated data collection mechanism that can be both standardized for State and national comparisons and customized for State-specific needs. The total cost to respondents is estimated at $27,000. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Number of Number of burden/ Total Respondents respondents responses/ response burden (in respondent (in hours) hours) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Noninstitutionalized household population in 3 States....... 4,500 1 0.30 1,350 --------------------------------------------------- Total................................................. ........... ........... ........... 1,350 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 41635]] Dated: August 5, 1996. Wilma G. Johnson, Acting Associate Director for Policy Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [FR Doc. 96-20322 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am] [BILLING CODE 4163-18-P]