[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36899-36900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13195]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Submission for OMB review; Comment Request; Retrovirus 
Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS): A Study of Motivations and Deterrents 
to Blood Donation in the United States

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 
(NHLBI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has submitted to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve 
the information collection listed below. This proposed information 
collection was previously published in the Federal Register on May 29, 
2001, pages 29, 152-29, 153 and allowed 60-days for public comment. The 
Institute mailed a summary of the protocol and copies of the survey 
instrument in response to a request. Additionally, the Institute 
received two comments. A professional association applauded the 
agency's efforts and urged the Institute to consider future population 
based studies that would account for views of those who never donate 
blood. The second comment was from an individual representing 
biomedical services of a national blood banking institution. This 
individual stressed the need to build upon previous research conducted 
by this blood banking organization. The Institute responded to both 
comments via letter. To the first the Institute replied that they were 
discussing future studies to assess reasons that some people never 
donate blood. To the second they responded that while it would be 
beneficial to build upon this previous data, published literature on 
this blood collection organization's research was not available. No 
further responses to the Institute were received. The purpose of this 
notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. The 
National Institutes of Health may not conduct or sponsor, and the 
respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection 
that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 
1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Proposed Collection: Title: Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study 
(REDS): A Study of Motivations and Deterrents to Blood Donation in the 
United States. Type of Information Collection Request: NEW. Need and 
Use of Information Collection: There are serious blood shortages in the 
U.S. and the situation is predicted to worsen unless corrective 
measures are initiated. Through a randomized mail survey of individuals 
who have donated blood at one of the blood centers participating in the 
NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS), this study will 
examine the personal, or intrinsic reasons for choosing to donate 
blood, as well as external influences for choosing to donate blood. 
Donors will be given the option to respond via a mailed survey or a 
secured website. Comparisons will be made between lapsed and repeat 
donors with the premise that repeat donors may have a stronger 
altruistic impetus for donating than donors who donate less frequently 
or discontinue donating. Donors will be asked about factors influencing 
them to donate, the donation experience, and questions addressing 
accessibility to donate. Additionally, the study will examine possible 
barriers to donation, such as inconvenience, discomfort, and 
confidentiality. With the majority of the blood supply coming from 
committed, repeat donors, information regarding why an individual 
decides to donate, and more importantly, what motivates them to come 
back, will provide valuable insight on possible strategies to encourage 
increased donation frequency among the current blood donor population. 
Assessment of possible barriers to donation will provide areas for 
focusing improvement in the blood donation process. Data from this 
survey will provide a valuable perspective for devising strategies to 
increase blood donation the U.S., thus helping insure that there is an 
adequate supply to meet the needs of the American public. Frequency of 
Response: Once. Affected Public: Individuals. Type of Respondents: 
Adult Blood Donors. The annual reporting burden is as follows: 
Estimated Number of Respondents: 40, 000; Estimated Number of Responses 
per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per Response: 0.25; and 
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 10,000. The annualized 
cost to respondents is estimated at: $157,000. There are no Capital 
Costs, Operating Cost, and/or Maintenance Costs to report.

[[Page 36900]]



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                                                                     Estimated                       Estimated
                                                     Estimated       number of        Average      total annual
               Type of respondents                   number of     responses per   burden hours    burden hours
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response      requested
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult Blood Donors..............................          40,000               1            0.25          10,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Direct Comments to OMB

    Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained 
in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and 
associated response time, should be directed to the: Office of 
Management and Budget, Office of Regulatory Affairs, New Executive 
Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk 
Officer for NIH. To request more information on the proposed project or 
to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact: 
Dr. George J. Nemo, Group Leader, Transfusion Medicine, Scientific 
Research Group, Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, NHLBI, NIH, 
Two Rockledge Center, Suite 10042, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950, 
Bethesda, MD 20892-7950, or call non-toll free number 301-435-0075, 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 the date of this 
publication.

    Dated: May 10, 2002.
Donald Christoferson,
Executive Officer, NHLBI.
[FR Doc. 02-13195 Filed 5-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M