[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 188 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55216-55217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4770]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Availability of Draft Public Health Service (PHS) Clinical 
Practice Guideline Update on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice for pre-publication review and comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 
announces the availability of a draft Public Health Service clinical 
practice guideline Update on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence for 
pre-publication review. This PHS guideline update is being produced by 
a multidisciplinary private-sector panel of experts convened by the 
agencies of the Public Health Service. The expert panel will not 
respond to individual comments but will consider all comments in 
determining revisions to the guideline.

DATES: Comments must be postmarked by October 26, 2007.

Request for Draft PHS Guideline Update

    To receive a copy of the draft guideline update, requests must 
include: Requester's name; Affiliation (business or organization); 
Address (including zip code); Telephone and Fax numbers. This is a 
draft document. Since changes are likely to be made to the draft 
guideline update during the review process this draft document should 
not be used as a clinical practice guideline until final publication. 
It is anticipated that the final guideline update will be made 
available to the public in the spring of 2008.
    You will be mailed a printed DRAFT copy of the draft guideline 
update and sent by e-mail: (1) An electronic form to submit any 
comments and (2) a short conflict of interest form to be completed by 
those submitting comments.

ADDRESSES: Written requests, including your e-mail address, should be 
mailed to: David Fraser, Assistant Director for Research 
Administration, University of Wisconsin-Center for Tobacco Research and 
Intervention, 1930 Monroe Street, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53711-2027.

Automated Review Process

    A computerized guideline review process enables comments to be 
entered on a special form designed for typed entry, documentation and 
consideration of all comments. The form will be sent by e-mail, with 
instructions, to those requesting the draft guideline update. To 
facilitate the review process, it is strongly recommended that 
reviewers use the computer form to record their comments. For technical 
assistance or questions regarding this input process, please follow the 
directions in the materials you receive.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the PHS Treating 
Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline Update, please 
contact: CAPT Ernestine Murray, Project Officer, Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality (AHRQ), Center for Outcomes and Evidence, 540 
Gaither Road, Room 6337, Rockville, MD 20850, Telephone: 301-427-1630, 
E-mail Address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2006 a private-sector panel of 
experts was convened by the Agencies of the Public Health Service to 
update the PHS Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice 
Guideline to improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation activities. 
A public meeting was also held in June 2007 for the panel to receive 
comments and information relevant to the update of the PHS guideline. 
The panel also reviewed and synthesized the literature on the topic and 
drafted a set of conclusions and recommendations based on the best 
available scientific data and expert judgments. A draft of these 
conclusions and recommendations is now undergoing peer review by a 
substantial number of individuals and groups who are knowledgeable 
about clinical treatment of tobacco dependence.
    With this notice, the panel and the PHS are also making the draft 
guideline available to other individuals who wish to provide written 
review comments. After review and evaluation of the comments received, 
the panel will make appropriate revisions to the current draft PHS 
guideline update and prepare the clinical practice guideline update on 
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Potential reviewers should note 
that the PHS may disclose the names of the guideline reviewers at the 
same time the guideline is published. The PHS may also release review 
comments after the guideline is published. Generally, comments will not 
be attributed to specific reviewers. However, attribution may be 
necessary or useful to indicate the validity or reliability of 
particularly important comments.


[[Page 55217]]


    Dated: September 21, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 07-4770 Filed 9-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M