[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50685-50686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17386]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects 
or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the 
SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (240) 276-1243.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of 
information are 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.

Proposed Project: 2008-2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 
Methodological Field Tests--NEW

    The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), formerly the 
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), is a survey of the 
civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States 12 
years old and older. The data are used to determine the prevalence of 
use of tobacco products, alcohol, illicit substances, and illicit use 
of prescription drugs. The results are used by SAMHSA, ONDCP, Federal 
government agencies, and other organizations and researchers to 
establish policy, direct program activities, and better allocate 
resources.
    This will be a request for generic approval for information 
collection for NSDUH methodological field tests designed to examine the 
feasibility, quality, and efficiency of new procedures of revisions to 
the existing survey protocol. These field tests will examine ways to 
increase data quality, lower operating costs, and gain a better 
understanding of various sources of

[[Page 50686]]

nonsampling error. If these tests provide successful results, current 
procedures may be revised and incorporated into the main study (e.g., 
questionnaire changes). Particular attention will be given to 
minimizing the impact of design changes so that survey data continue to 
remain comparable over time.
    Field test activities are expected to include improving response 
rates among persons residing in controlled access communities (locked 
apartment buildings, gated communities, college dormitories, etc.), and 
conducting a nonresponse follow-up study. Cognitive laboratory testing 
will be conducted prior to the implementation of significant 
questionnaire modifications. These questionnaire modifications will 
also be pre-tested and the feasibility of text-to-speech software 
determined. To understand the effectiveness of current monetary 
incentive, a new incentive study will be conducted with varying 
incentive amounts. The relationship between incentives and veracity of 
reporting will also be examined. Tests will also be designed to 
determine the feasibility of alternative sample designs and modes of 
data collection. Lastly, a customer satisfaction survey of NSDUH data 
users will be conducted to improve the utility of the NSDUH data. Some 
of the above studies may be combined to introduce survey efficiencies.
    The average annual burden associated with these activities over a 
three-year period is summarized below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden
                    Activity                         Number of     Responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                     responses      respondent         (hr.)          (hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Improving participation among controlled                  417               1           1.0               417
 access and other hard-to-reach populations.....
b. Nonresponse follow-up........................            2000               1           1.0              2000
c. Incentive Study..............................            2000               1           1.0              2000
d. Validity study (including testing methods for            2500               1           1.0              2500
 biological data specimens).....................
e. Cognitive laboratory testing.................              90               1           1.0                90
f. Annual questionnaire pre-test................             670               1           1.0               670
g. Field testing (alternative questions, data               1000               1           1.0              1000
 collection protocol, contact materials)........
h. Text-to-speech software for voices in                     100               1           1.0               100
 computer-assisted interviewing.................
i. Testing alternative sample designs (including            1000               1           1.0              1000
 alternative sampling frames)...................
j. Alternative modes of data collection (e.g., T-            100               1           1.0               100
 ACASI for Nonresponse follow-up)...............
k. Customer satisfaction survey of NSDUH data                100               1            .25               25
 users..........................................
Household screening for a-d, f-g, i-j...........          12,471               1           0.083            1035
Screening Verification for a-d, f-g, i-j........             997               1           0.067              68
Interview Verification for a-d, f-g, i-j........            1497               1           0.067             100
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          24,942              --          --              11,105
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    Send comments to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 7-1044, One Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857 and e-mail her 
a copy at [email protected]. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: August 23, 2007.
Elaine Parry,
Acting Director, Office of Program Services.
[FR Doc. E7-17386 Filed 8-31-07; 8:45 am]
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