[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 519-520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-108]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Physician Survey on 
Cancer Susceptibility Testing

SUMMARY: 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 National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will publish periodic 
summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

Proposed Collection

    Title: Physicians Survey on Inherited Cancer Susceptibility 
Testing. Type of Information Collection Request: New. Need and Use of 
Information Collection: The Physicians Survey on Inherited Cancer 
Susceptibility Testing will be used by the National Cancer Institute to 
establish baseline information on the prevalence of genetic testing for 
cancer susceptibility among primary care physicians in the United 
States. The survey will assess whether there are statistically 
significant differences in (1) self-reported knowledge, current use of, 
and future intentions to use genetic testing for cancer susceptibility, 
and (2) perceptions of barriers to testing, among primary care 
physicians by their type and location of practice, and recency of 
training. Primary care physicians (internists, pediatricians, family 
and general practitioners) will also be compared with specialty groups 
(gastroenterologists, surgeons, urologists and oncologists) with 
respect to their

[[Page 520]]

use, attitudes toward, and knowledge of, genetic testing for cancer 
susceptibility. A questionnaire will be administered by mail, 
telephone, facsimile and Internet, using a nationally representative 
sample of physicians. The study physicians will select their preferred 
response mode. Frequency of Response: One-time study. Affected Public: 
Medical community. Type of Respondents: Primary care and specialty 
physicians with active licenses to practice medicine in the U.S. The 
annualized cost to respondents is estimated at $33,750. Burden 
estimates are presented here:

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                                                                    Estimated #   Average burden     Estimated
                  Questionnaire                     Estimated #     responses/       hours per     total annual
                                                    respondents     respondent       response      burden hours
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Primary care physicians.........................           1,096               1           0.250             274
Specialty physicians............................             254               1           0.250              64
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             338
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REQUEST FOR COMMENTS: Written comments and/or suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the 
following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy 
of the data collection plans and instruments, contact Louise Wideroff 
or Andrew Freedman, Epidemiologists, National Cancer Institute, EPN 
313, Executive Boulevard MSC 7334, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7344, 
Telephone (301) 435-6823 or (301) 435-6819, FAX (301) 435-3710, or E-
mail your request, including your address, to [email protected] or 
Andrew__F[email protected].

COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are 
best assured of having their full effect if received on or before March 
8, 1999.

    Dated: December 29, 1998.
Reesa Nichols,
OMB Project Clearance Liaison.
[FR Doc. 99-108 Filed 1-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M