[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66438-66439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29523]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-08]


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) 498-1210.
    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 Seleda Perryman, 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: Evaluation of James A. Ferguson Emerging 
Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program--New--National Center for 
Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).
    CDC is particularly concerned with the racial, ethnic, and gender 
health disparities in the distribution of infectious diseases in the 
U.S. To help address the health and well-being of minority and 
underserved populations, CDC endeavors to train a racially and 
ethnically diverse public health workforce. Since 1989, the James A. 
Ferguson Emerging Infectious Disease Summer Fellowship Program, which 
is administered by the Minority Health Professions Foundation (MHPF), 
has been providing an 8-week program of educational and experiential 
opportunities for racial and ethnic minority medical, dental, pharmacy, 
veterinary, and public health graduate students. The Fellows are given 
opportunities to explore the wide range of public health career options 
available to them once their formal training is completed. As of summer 
2003, 311 Fellows have completed the program.
    The purpose of this study is to conduct a multi-facet evaluation of 
the Ferguson Fellowship Program. The data from this study will be used 
to develop planning and decision making initiatives regarding expansion 
and funding. The study aims to evaluate and measure the success of the 
program for the dual purposes of program expansion and encouraging 
other organizations to implement similar mechanisms to increase the 
presence of racial and ethnic minorities in public health.
    Data for this study will be collected from relevant documents, 
telephone interviews with key stakeholders, and a mail survey of 
Ferguson Fellows.
    CDC proposes to conduct the study to (1) Examine the views and 
perspectives of the constituents and their experiences with the 
Ferguson Fellowship Program and (2) assess the impact of the program on 
strengthening and diversifying the workforce and addressing racial and 
ethnic health disparities in the field of Public Health. To minimize 
respondent burden, the mail survey questionnaire will be carefully 
developed with appropriate guidance from CDC to develop survey items 
that are relevant and succinct.
    Prior to fielding the surveys, an evaluation contractor with 
guidance from CDC, will select nine Fellows from

[[Page 66439]]

the universe of 311 Fellows to participate in pilot interviews by 
telephone to determine the comprehensibility, appropriateness, and 
general usability of the survey instrument. These interviews will be 
conducted using verbal probing and concurrent ``think-aloud'' 
techniques in order to gain insight into the cognitive processes a 
respondent uses to answer survey questions. These interviews help 
minimize respondent burden by ensuring that each survey item is 
comprehensible and reliable.
    The information obtained from this project will enable CDC to make 
important decisions regarding the program's future expansion and 
funding. Responses are voluntary. No proprietary items or questions of 
sensitive nature will be collected. There is no cost to respondents.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                      Form                           Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
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Survey..........................................             311               1           30/60             156
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             156
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    Dated: November 19, 2003.
Laura Yerdon Martin,
Acting Director, Executive Secretariat, Centers for Disease and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-29523 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P