[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35405-35406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14390]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-12MX]


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 404-639-7570 or 
send comments to Kimberly S. Lane, at 1600 Clifton Road, MS D74, 
Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to [email protected].
    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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Research to Inform the Prevention of Asthma in Healthcare--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Healthcare is the largest industry in the United States and 
performs a vital function in society. Evidence from both surveillance 
and epidemiologic research indicates that healthcare workers have an 
elevated risk for work-related asthma (WRA) associated with exposure to 
groups of agents such as cleaning products, latex, indoor air 
pollution, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols. Recent 
epidemiologic studies of WRA among healthcare workers have utilized job 
exposure matrices (JEMs) based on probability of exposure, however, 
specific exposures/etiologic agents are not well characterized and 
quantitative exposure measurements are lacking. In this project, NIOSH 
will augment the existing JEM with quantitative exposure data, which 
will significantly enhance the existing JEMs and develop a survey 
questionnaire for asthma in healthcare.
    Since asthma continues to be a problem among healthcare workers, 
the overall goal of this project is to prevent work-related asthma 
among healthcare workers. The primary objective is to identify 
modifiable occupational risk factors for asthma in healthcare that will 
inform strategies for prevention. Specific Aims that support the 
Primary Objective are:
    Aim 1. Measure frequency of asthma onset, related symptoms, and 
exacerbation of asthma in selected healthcare occupations.
    Aim 2. Assess associations between asthma outcomes and exposures to 
identify modifiable risk factors.
    In order to accomplish the goal and aims of this project, NIOSH has 
developed a survey designed to collect information about work history, 
workplace exposures and asthma health from workers in the healthcare 
industry. Aim 1 of this project will be completed using data 
exclusively from this survey. While aim 2 will be completed using 
asthma outcome data from the survey and exposure data from the JEM 
developed from survey data and exposure data from previously 
environmental sampling at healthcare facilities.
    Approximately 17,500 health care workers in the New York City area 
will be recruited for this study. NIOSH is partnering with the Service 
Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199 in New York City. The 
SEIU1199 Communications Center (CC) will be responsible for collecting 
survey data from union members by telephone interview. The goal is to 
conduct a cross-sectional epidemiologic survey of approximately 5,000 
healthcare workers who are members of SEIU1199. Only health care 
workers whose job titles are in one of nine job titles will be 
recruited. These nine job titles include: certified nursing assistants 
(CNAs), central supply, environmental services, licensed practical 
nurses (LPNs), lab techs, operating room (OR) techs, registered nurses 
(RNs), respiratory therapists, and dental assistants. Furthermore, 
recruitment of health care workers will only be from hospitals and 
nursing homes.
    Completion of the survey by SEIU1199 members will be done either 
online or over the telephone. After the initial recruitment period, 
SEIU1199 members will have approximately two weeks to complete the 
online survey. After this two week period, the SEIU1199 Communication 
Center will begin calling members who have not completed the online 
survey and attempt to complete the survey with them by telephone 
interview. NIOSH anticipates 20% of the responses to be made using the 
online survey and the remaining 80% to be by telephone interview.
    Summary results of this study will be made available to SEIU1199 
members who completed the survey through a letter mailed to their 
homes. Although NIOSH has partnered with SEIU119, results of this study 
will also be disseminated to other industry stakeholders including 
healthcare workers, researchers, clinicians, and professional societies 
and government agencies. The desired outcome of the dissemination 
efforts include healthcare workers learning about hazards in their work 
environment and becoming more prepared to participate in the 
development of strategies to minimize risk. Also, clinicians will learn 
how occupational exposures can impact the respiratory health of their 
patients who work in healthcare, which should improve the care they 
provide. In addition, manuscripts of results and conclusions will be 
drafted and published in peer reviewed journals.
    The target sample size for this study is 5,000. Based on the 
SEIU1199 membership data, the percentage of eligible union members that 
fall into the targeted nine job categories is known. Therefore, a 
participant job-category distribution estimate can be made.
    Completion of either the online or telephone survey will take 
approximately 30 minutes. It is estimated that the annualized burden 
will be 2,500 hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their 
time.

[[Page 35406]]



 
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                                                                      No. of        Avg. burden
       Type of respondents           Form name        No. of       responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)        (in hrs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified Nursing Assistants....          Online             297               1           30/60             149
                                       Telephone           1,188               1           30/60             594
Central Supply Workers..........          Online               8               1           30/60               4
                                       Telephone              34               1           30/60              17
Dental Assistants...............          Online              18               1           30/60               9
                                       Telephone              71               1           30/60              36
Environmental Service Workers...          Online             228               1           30/60             114
                                       Telephone             914               1           30/60             457
Licensed Practical Nurses.......          Online             140               1           30/60              70
                                       Telephone             559               1           30/60             280
Lab Technicians.................          Online              77               1           30/60              39
                                       Telephone             310               1           30/60             155
Operating Room Technicians......          Online              27               1           30/60              14
                                       Telephone             109               1           30/60              55
Registered Nurses...............          Online             168               1           30/60              84
                                       Telephone             672               1           30/60             336
Respiratory Therapists..........          Online              36               1           30/60              18
                                       Telephone             144               1           30/60              72
    Total.......................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............           2,500
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Kimberly S. Lane,
Deputy Director, Office of Science Integrity, Office of the Associate 
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-14390 Filed 6-12-12; 8:45 am]
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