[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66909-66910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26369]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-20-1154]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled CDC/ATSDR Formative Research and Tool 
Development to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval. CDC previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection 
Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations'' notice on August 23, 
2019 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC did 
not receive comments related to the previous notice. This notice serves 
to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (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 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, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide 
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

    CDC/ATSDR Formative Research and Tool Development--(OMB Control No. 
0920-1154, Exp. 1/31/2020)--Extension--Office of Science (OS), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requests 
approval for an extension of a generic clearance for CDC/ATSDR 
Formative Research and Tool Development. This information collection 
request is designed to allow CDC to conduct formative research 
information collection activities used to inform many aspects of 
surveillance, communications, health promotion, and research project 
development at CDC. Formative research is the basis for developing 
effective strategies including communication channels, for influencing 
behavior change. It helps researchers identify and understand the 
characteristics--interests, behaviors and needs--of target populations 
that influence their decisions and actions.
    Formative research is integral in developing programs as well as 
improving existing and ongoing programs. Formative research looks at 
the community in which a public health intervention is being or will be 
implemented and helps the project staff

[[Page 66910]]

understand the interests, attributes and needs of different populations 
and persons in that community. Formative research occurs before a 
program is designed and implemented, or while a program is being 
conducted.
    At CDC, formative research is necessary for developing new programs 
or adapting programs that deal with the complexity of behavior, social 
context, cultural identity, and health care that underlie the 
epidemiology of diseases and conditions in the U.S. CDC conducts 
formative research to develop public-sensitive communication messages 
and user friendly tools prior to developing or recommending 
interventions, or care. Sometimes these studies are entirely behavioral 
but most often they are cycles of interviews and focus groups designed 
to inform the development of a product. Products from these formative 
research studies will be used for prevention of disease. Findings from 
these studies may also be presented as evidence to disease-specific 
National Advisory Committees, to support revisions to recommended 
prevention and intervention methods, as well as new recommendations.
    Much of CDC's health communication takes place within campaigns 
that have fairly lengthy planning periods--timeframes that accommodate 
the standard Federal process for approving data collections. Short term 
qualitative interviewing and cognitive research techniques have 
previously proven invaluable in the development of scientifically valid 
and population-appropriate methods, interventions, and instruments.
    This request includes studies investigating the utility and 
acceptability of proposed sampling and recruitment methods, 
intervention contents and delivery, questionnaire domains, individual 
questions, and interactions with project staff or electronic data 
collection equipment. These activities will also provide information 
about how respondents answer questions, and ways in which question 
response bias and error can be reduced.
    This request also includes collection of information from public 
health programs to assess needs related to initiation of a new program 
activity or expansion or changes in scope or implementation of existing 
program activities to adapt them to current needs. The information 
collected will be used to advise programs and provide capacity-building 
assistance tailored to identify needs.
    Overall, these development activities are intended to provide 
information that will increase the success of the surveillance or 
research projects through increasing response rates and decreasing 
response error, thereby decreasing future data collection burden to the 
public. The studies that will be covered under this request will 
include one or more of the following investigational modalities: (1) 
Structured and qualitative interviewing for surveillance, research, 
interventions and material development, (2) cognitive interviewing for 
development of specific data collection instruments, (3) methodological 
research (4) usability testing of technology-based instruments and 
materials, (5) field testing of new methodologies and materials, (6) 
investigation of mental models for health decision-making, to inform 
health communication messages, and (7) organizational needs assessments 
to support development of capacity. Respondents who will participate in 
individual and group interviews (qualitative, cognitive, and computer 
assisted development activities) are selected purposively from those 
who respond to recruitment advertisements. In addition to utilizing 
advertisements for recruitment, respondents who will participate in 
research on survey methods may be selected purposively or 
systematically from within an ongoing surveillance or research project.
    Participation of respondents is voluntary. There is no cost to 
participants other than their time. The total estimated annual burden 
is 20,000 hours.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                     Number of
          Type of respondent                    Form name            Number of    responses  per  Average  hours
                                                                    respondents      respondent    per  response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General public and health care          Screener................          10,000               1           15/60
 providers.
                                        Interview...............           5,000               1               1
                                        Focus Group Interview...           5,000               1               2
                                        Survey..................           5,000               1           30/60
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2019-26369 Filed 12-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P