[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53224-53225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26322]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-02-03]


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 or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Perceptions of Tuberculosis Among Foreign Born Persons: 
Ethnographic Studies--New--National Center for HIV, STD, and TB 
Prevention (NCHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    The National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC proposes 
to conduct an ethnographic study to assess the attitudes, beliefs, and 
practices of selected foreign born persons regarding tuberculosis (TB). 
The purpose of this two-year effort is to provide formative research 
findings to use when designing future surveys, planning interventions, 
and evaluating programs to improve TB screening and adherence to 
therapy among foreign born persons. This research will also identify 
program gaps in addressing the special needs of these populations. A 
review of published data and consensus among TB researchers suggest 
that elimination of TB in the United States will depend largely upon 
reducing the impact of the disease among the foreign born. Currently, 
almost half of all domestic TB cases occur among foreign-born persons, 
and this proportion is growing. Providing culturally appropriate and 
responsive services to people from a variety of ethnic and cultural 
backgrounds is a challenge for local TB control programs and has been 
identified as a priority area in TB elimination activities.
    Recognizing this challenge, the CDC Working Group on Tuberculosis 
Among Foreign Born Persons in 1998 developed recommendations for 
increasing emphasis on prevention and control of TB in foreign-born 
populations. The recommendations highlighted the need to utilize 
operational and behavioral research to gain a better understanding of 
relevant barriers to diagnosis and care. While few studies have 
examined these issues with the goal of developing practical tools to 
enhance TB services, one research project, conducted in New York State 
among Vietnamese refugees, created a valid research method for 
assessing TB issues among this population. The project resulted in 
policy change that increased this group's adherence to therapy.
    The proposed study will build upon this research with Vietnamese 
refugees but will incorporate several cultural groups in four U.S. 
cities with a high burden of foreign-born TB patients. In depth 
ethnographic interviews will be conducted with 200 adults from the four 
ethnic/cultural groups, 50 per site. The information will be gathered 
by trained professional, multilingual/multi-cultural interviewers who 
will be rendered by the contracting agent. The data collection 
instrument will be comprised of semi-structured and open-ended 
questions intended to elicit a full range of responses concerning the 
participants' cultural beliefs and attitudes toward TB. Interviews will 
last no longer than one hour. Analysis of data will be performed with 
Atlas.ti, a qualitative analysis computer program.
    The ultimate project outcomes will include a cultural competency 
resource manual with profiles of TB beliefs and behaviors from the 
studied cultural groups. The manual will assist local and

[[Page 53225]]

state health departments in developing customized interventions 
tailored to the local context. Culturally appropriate interventions 
will increase tuberculin skin testing and patient adherence to 
treatment for active TB disease and latent TB infection. In addition, 
the results can be used to develop targeted outreach, as well as 
customized communication protocols, patient education materials, 
incentives, and enablers. Finally, the study will produce a valid 
interview instrument that TB clinics can adopt for their own 
assessments of TB beliefs and attitudes among the local communities 
they serve. There are no cost to respondents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of     Average burden/
                 Respondents                     Number of        responses/      response (in     Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent         hrs.)          (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign Born Persons (interviewed)..........             100                1                1              100
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............             100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: October 11, 2001.
John Moore,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 01-26322 Filed 10-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P