[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 246 (Thursday, December 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80444-80445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32595]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Health Information 
National Trends Survey (HINTS)

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), 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: Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Type of 
Information Collection Request: New. Need and Use of Information 
Collection: As a result of the ongoing and rapidly expanding 
communication revolution (e.g., the development of the Internet), there 
is an unprecedented opportunity to rapidly communicate information 
about cancer and other health topics to the general public. Developing 
appropriate messages for the public about cancer prevention, detection, 
diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship requires an understanding of 
individuals' sources and access to cancer-related information, their 
knowledge about cancer and other health information, or the factors 
that enhance or may hinder access, use, or knowledge of health 
information.
    The HINTS is a new telephone survey designed to provide nationally 
representative, population-based standardized data on health knowledge 
and health information for the United States. The survey will establish 
important baseline data about cancer communication practices, 
preferences for information, and cancer knowledge across the country. 
This survey will provide data on the public's perceived needs for 
cancer information, sources and access to health information (e.g., 
health care providers, Internet, mass media), current knowledge and 
understanding about cancer prevention and detection, and the barriers 
to more effectively understanding and utilizing cancer-related 
information. The HINTS is intended to be conducted every 2 years to 
measure progress in improving cancer knowledge and communication among 
the general public. The survey will be administered to one sample adult 
in 12,000 households, and is intended to have an adequate sample size 
to produce stable estimates for racial and ethnic minority populations.
    Data from this survey are essential for NCI to develop improved 
cancer-related messages and materials and to tailor these messages for 
different audiences, especially for cancer prevention and detection. 
Data will be used to help selecting the best means of communicating 
cancer-related messages to different audiences (communication channels) 
to reach the diverse audiences in the United States. Finally, 
information obtained in this survey data will be used to identify 
research gaps and to guide the direction and decisions about NCI's 
research efforts in health promotion and health communication.
    Frequency of response: One-time. Affected public: Individuals. Type 
of Respondents: U.S. adults. The annual reporting burden is as follows:

                         Table X.--Annualized Burden Estimates for Hints Data Collection
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                                                               Estimated                  Average       Annual
                       Data collection                         number of    Frequency     time per      burden
                                                              respondents  of response    response      hours
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Pilot Survey................................................          150            1        0.333           50
HINTS.......................................................       12,000            1        0.333        4,000
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Totals..................................................       12,150  ...........  ...........        4,050
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    There are no Capital Costs to report. There are no Operating or 
Maintenance Costs to report.
    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 proposed performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (2) The 
accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information including the validity of the

[[Page 80445]]

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 David E. Nelson, M.D., M.P.H., Project Officer, 
National Cancer Institute, EPN 4068, 6130 Executive Boulevard MSC 7365, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20852-7365, or call non-toll-free number (301) 594-
9904, or FAX your request to (301) 480-2087, or E-mail your request, 
including your address, to [email protected].
    Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days 
of this notice.

    Dated: December 15, 2000.
Reesa L. Nichols,
OMB Clearance Liaison.
[FR Doc. 00-32595 Filed 12-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M