[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 179 (Monday, September 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43544-43546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19743]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-17-17ABE]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be

[[Page 43545]]

collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and (e) Assess information 
collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Direct written comments 
and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the 
Attention: 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

    Developmental Projects to Improve the National Health and Nutrition 
Examination Survey and Related Programs--New--National Center for 
Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Section 306 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 
242k), as amended, authorizes that the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS), acting through NCHS, shall collect statistics on the 
extent and nature of illness and disability; environmental, social and 
other health hazards; and determinants of health of the population of 
the United States. The Division of Health and Nutrition Examination 
Surveys (DHNES) has conducted national surveys and related projects 
periodically between 1970 and 1994, and continuously since 1999.
    The mission of DHNES programs is to produce descriptive statistics 
which measure the health and nutrition status of the general 
population. The continuous operation of DHNES programs presents unique 
challenges in testing new survey content and activities, such as 
outreach or participant screening etc.
    This generic request covers developmental projects to help evaluate 
and enhance DHNES existing and proposed data collection activities to 
increase research capacity and improve data quality. The information 
collected through this Generic Information Collection Request will not 
be used to make generalizable statements about the population of 
interest or to inform public policy; however, methodological findings 
from these projects may be reported.
    The purpose and use of projects under this NHANES generic clearance 
would include developmental projects necessary for activities such as 
testing new procedures, equipment, and approaches that are going to be 
folded into NHANES; designing and testing examination components or 
survey questions; creating new studies including biomonitoring and 
clinical measures; creating new cohorts, including a pregnancy and/or a 
birth--24 month cohort; testing of the cognitive and interpretive 
aspects of survey methodology; feasibility testing of proposed new 
components or modifications to existing components; testing of human-
computer interfaces/usability; assessing the acceptability of proposed 
NHANES components among likely participants; testing alternative 
approaches to existing NHANES procedures, including activities related 
to improving nonresponse; testing the use of or variations/adjustments 
in incentives; testing content of web based surveys; testing the 
feasibility of obtaining bodily fluid specimens (blood, urine, semen, 
saliva, breastmilk) and tissue sample (swabs); testing digital imaging 
technology and related procedures (e.g., retinal scan, liver 
ultrasound, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), prescription and 
over-the-counter dietary supplements bottles); testing the feasibility 
of and procedure/processes for accessing participant's medical records 
from healthcare settings (e.g., hospitals and physician offices); 
testing the feasibility and protocols for home examination 
measurements; testing survey materials and procedures to improve 
response rates, including changes to advance materials and protocols, 
changes to the incentive structure, introduction of new and timely 
outreach and awareness procedures including the use of social media; 
conducting crossover studies; creating and testing digital survey 
materials; conducting customer satisfaction assessments or surveys.
    The types of participants covered by the NHANES generic may include 
current or past NHANES participants; family or household members of 
NHANES participants; individuals eligible to be participants in NHANES, 
but who did not screen into the actual survey; convenience samples; 
volunteers from the general public; subject matter experts or 
consultants such as survey methodologist, academic researchers, 
clinicians or other health care providers; NHANES data or Web site 
users; individuals abroad who would be part of a collaborative 
development project(s) between NCHS and related public health agencies 
and/or public health researchers abroad.
    The type of participant involved in a given developmental project 
would be determined by the nature of the project. The details of each 
project will be included in the specific GenIC submissions.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time. A three year 
clearance is requested. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 
16,698.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
         Type of respondent                   Form name              Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals or households..........  Developmental Projects,               3,500               1               3
                                      Special Study, Focus Group
                                      documents.
Volunteers.........................  Developmental Projects &                600               1               3
                                      Special Study, Focus Group
                                      documents.
NHANES participants................  Developmental Projects &              1,400               1               3
                                      Special Study documents.
Subject Matter Experts.............  Focus Group/Developmental                15               1               1
                                      Project Documents.
NHANES web or Data users...........  Customer Satisfaction/                1,100               2            5/60
                                      Usability Documents.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 43546]]

Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-19743 Filed 9-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P