[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21126-21128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08150]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-13-12MX]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Send written comments 
to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 
20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received 
within 30 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

[[Page 21127]]

developed from survey data and exposure data from previously 
environmental sampling at healthcare facilities.
    Approximately 15,000 health care workers in the New York City area 
will be recruited for this study. The goal is to conduct a cross-
sectional epidemiologic survey of approximately 5,000 healthcare 
workers who are members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 
Local 1199. 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.
    There are no costs to respondents for this study. Summary results 
of this study will be made available to SEIU1199 members who completed 
the survey through a letter mailed to their homes. Summary results will 
also be published in the SEIU1199 newsletter for the remaining members. 
Results of this this study will also be disseminated to other industry 
stakeholders besides SEIU1199. These stakeholders and the desired 
consequences of the dissemination are:
    1. Healthcare workers will learn about hazards in their work 
environment and become better prepared to participate in the 
development of strategies to minimize risk.
    2. Health and safety staff at the facilities where participants are 
employed, who can potentially use the information for prevention.
    3. Researchers can build on the findings to conduct additional 
research that will advance our understanding of asthma in healthcare 
and how to prevent it.
    4. 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.
    5. Professional societies and government agencies will use findings 
from this and other studies to develop recommendations for preventing 
asthma and related symptoms in healthcare workers.
    Finally, 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. There is no cost to respondents other than 
their time. The total estimated annual burden hours are 1,255.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden
          Type of respondents                   Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)
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Certified Nursing Assistants..........  Online..................             149               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............             594               1           30/60
Central Supply Workers................  Online..................               4               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............              17               1           30/60
Dental Assistants.....................  Online..................               9               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............              36               1           30/60
Environmental Service Workers.........  Online..................             114               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............             457               1           30/60
Licensed Practical Nurses.............  Online..................              70               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............             280               1           30/60
Lab Technicians.......................  Online..................              39               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............             155               1           30/60
Operating Room Technicians............  Online..................              14               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............              55               1           30/60
Registered Nurses.....................  Online..................              84               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............             336               1           30/60
Respiratory Therapists................  Online..................              18               1           30/60
                                        Telephone...............              72               1           30/60
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[[Page 21128]]

Ron A. Otten,
Director, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of the Associate 
Director for Science Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-08150 Filed 4-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P