[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50383-50384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18654]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection project: 
``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and Research 
for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality''. In accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Cynthia D. 
McMichael, Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Room 
5022, Rockville, MD 20850.
    Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection 
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be 
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Project

    ``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and 
Research for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.''
    AHRQ plans to employ the latest techniques to improve its current 
data collections by developing new surveys, and by revising existing 
surveys in anticipation of, or in response to, changes in the 
healthcare field, for a 3 year period. The clearance request is limited 
to research on questionnaires, data collection methods and related 
reports and does not extend to the collection of data for public 
release or policy formation.
    A generic clearance for this work will allow AHRQ to draft and test 
survey instruments more quickly and with greater lead time, thereby 
managing project time more efficiently and

[[Page 50384]]

improving the quality of the data it collects.
    It is envisioned that in some instances the ability to pretest/
pilot-test survey-related instruments, in anticipation of work, or 
early in a project, may result in the decision not to proceed with 
particular survey activities, thereby saving both public and private 
resources and effectively eliminating or reducing respondent burden.
    Many of the survey tools AHRQ develops are made available to users 
in the private sector. The health care environment changes rapidly and 
requires a quick response from the agency to provide appropriately 
refined tools. A generic clearance for this methodological work will 
facilitate the agency's timely development of survey tools suitable for 
use in changing conditions.
    It is particularly important to refine AHRQ's survey tools because 
they are frequently made available to help the private sector to 
improve health care quality by enabling the gathering of useful data 
for analysis and for providing information about health care quality to 
consumers and purchasers so that they can use their marketplace choices 
to influence and improve health care quality.

Methods of Collection

    Participation in survey testing will be fully voluntary and non-
participation will have no effect on eligibility for, or receipt of, 
future AHRQ health services research support or on future opportunities 
to participate in research or to obtain informative research results. 
Specific estimation procedures, when used, will be described when we 
notify OMB as to actual studies conducted under the clearance.

                                       Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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                                                Number of                                          Total burden
         Type of research activity             respondents      Estimated time per respondent          hours
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Face-to-Face Interviews....................             100  60 minutes                                      100
Field Tests (short)........................           2,400  20 minutes                                      800
Field Tests (long).........................           7,600  30 minutes                                    3,800
Lab Experiments............................             200  90 minutes                                      300
Focus Groups...............................             100  60 minutes                                      100
Cognitive Interviews.......................             100  60 minutes                                      100
                                            -----------------
    Totals.................................          10,500  Not Applicable                                5,200
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Estimated Costs to the Federal Government

    Expenses (equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff) will be 
incurred by AHRQ components as part of their normal operating budgets. 
No additional costs to the Federal Government is anticipated. Any 
deviation from these limits will be noted in reports made to OMB with 
respect to a particular study or studies conducted under the clearance.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above-cited legislation, comments on the 
AHRQ information collection are requested with regard to any of the 
following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of functions of AHRQ, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and cost) 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 upon the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed 
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: August 6, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-18654 Filed 8-13-04; 8:45 am]
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