[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41066-41068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16401]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2013-N-0796]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Testing Communications on Medical Devices and 
Radiation-Emitting Products

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

[[Page 41067]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain 
information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of 
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on communication studies 
involving medical devices and radiation-emitting products regulated by 
FDA. This information will be used to explore concepts of interest and 
assist in the development and modification of communication messages 
and campaigns to fulfill the Agency's mission to protect the public 
health.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on the collection 
of information by September 9, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments on the 
collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, 
Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket 
number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Gittleson, Office of 
Information Management, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., 
PI50-400B, Rockville, MD 20850, 301-796-5156, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes Agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal Agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, FDA 
invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques, when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Testing Communications on Medical Devices and Radiation-Emitting 
Products--(OMB Control Number 0910-0678)--Extension

    FDA is authorized by section 1003(d)(2)(D) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 393(d)(2)(D)) to conduct educational 
and public information programs relating to the safety of regulated 
medical devices and radiation-emitting products. FDA must conduct 
needed research to ensure that such programs have the highest 
likelihood of being effective. Improving communications about medical 
devices and radiation-emitting products will involve many research 
methods, including individual indepth interviews, mall-intercept 
interviews, focus groups, self-administered surveys, gatekeeper 
reviews, and omnibus telephone surveys.
    The information collected will serve three major purposes. First, 
as formative research it will provide critical knowledge needed about 
target audiences to develop messages and campaigns about medical device 
and radiation-emitting product use. Knowledge of consumer and health 
care professional decision making processes will provide the better 
understanding of target audiences that FDA needs to design effective 
communication strategies, messages, and labels. These communications 
will aim to improve public understanding of the risks and benefits of 
using medical devices and radiation-emitting products by providing 
users with a better context in which to place risk information more 
completely.
    Second, as initial testing, it will allow FDA to assess the 
potential effectiveness of messages and materials in reaching and 
successfully communicating with their intended audiences. Testing 
messages with a sample of the target audience will allow FDA to refine 
messages while still in the developmental stage. Respondents will be 
asked to give their reaction to the messages in either individual or 
group settings.
    Third, as evaluative research, it will allow FDA to ascertain the 
effectiveness of the messages and the distribution method of these 
messages in achieving the objectives of the message campaign. 
Evaluation of campaigns is a vital link in continuous improvement of 
communications at FDA.
    Annually, FDA projects about 30 studies using a variety of research 
methods and lasting an average of 0.17 hours each (varying from 0.08-
1.5 hours). FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information 
based on prior recent experience with the various types of data 
collection methods described earlier. FDA is requesting this burden so 
as not to restrict the Agency's ability to gather information on public 
sentiment for its proposals in its regulatory and communications 
programs.
    FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows:

                                 Table 1--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden \1\
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                                                   Number of
           Activity                Number of     responses per   Total annual    Average burden     Total hours
                                  respondents     respondent       responses      per response
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Individual indepth interviews.             360               1             360  0.75 (45                     270
                                                                                 minutes).
General public focus group                 144               1             144  1.50 hours......             216
 interviews.
Intercept interviews: Central              200               1             200  0.25 (15                      50
 location.                                                                       minutes).
Intercept interviews:                    4,000               1           4,000  0.08 (5 minutes)             320
 Telephone.
Self-administered surveys.....           2,400               1           2,400  0.25 (15                     600
                                                                                 minutes).
Gatekeeper reviews............             400               1             400  0.50 (30                     200
                                                                                 minutes).

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Omnibus surveys...............           1,200               1           1,200  0.17 (10                     204
                                                                                 minutes).
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    Total (general public)....           8,704  ..............  ..............  ................           1,860
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Physician focus group                      144               1             144  1.50 hours......             216
 interviews.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total (physician).........             144  ..............  ..............  ................             216
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total (overall).......           8,848  ..............  ..............  ................           2,076
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\1\ There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of
  information.


    Dated: July 2, 2013.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013-16401 Filed 7-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P