[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 125 (Friday, July 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35295-35297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14225]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-21-21CG]


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 ``A Longitudinal Examination of Mental and 
Physical Health among Police Associated with COVID-19'' 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 January 26, 2021 to obtain comments from 
the public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment 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. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 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

    A Longitudinal Examination of Mental and Physical Health among 
Police Associated with COVID-19--New--National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Police officers are exposed to several stressors during their 
working lives, including traumatic events (e.g., motor-vehicle 
accidents, domestic incidents), organizational stressors (e.g., long 
work hours, shiftwork), public criticism, and concern about physical 
harm. On top of these day-to-day stressors, the coronavirus disease 
2019 (COVID-19) has contributed to an increase in mental and physical 
risk. Although exact figures are not known, in April 2020, it was 
estimated that approximately 17% of the New York police department were 
out sick, and five officers had died. Over 1,000 police officers had 
tested positive for COVID-19. Since then, rates of COVID-19 have not 
only increased in the general population, but also in police 
populations. These preliminary studies indicate that police departments 
are under a great deal of stress and at greater risk because of COVID-
19. Given that efficiently performing officers are key to successful 
functioning of law enforcement, addressing police mental and physical 
health is imperative for their well-being, as well as that of the 
public they serve. Nonetheless, little research has been conducted to 
evaluate the physical and mental health consequences of the COVID-19 
pandemic on police officers. Thus, NIOSH seeks OMB approval to evaluate 
the longitudinal mental and physical health effect of the COVID-19 
pandemic on police officers.
    Previously, in collaboration with NIOSH, the University of New York 
at Buffalo (UB) conducted a cross-sectional research project to 
evaluate the mental, physical, and subclinical measures of health in 
the Buffalo, NY police officers as part of the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic 
Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study. The BCOPS study itself 
includes a baseline examination and four follow-up examinations. For 
this reason, NIOSH has mental and physical health data on police 
officers, collected prior to COVID-19, including stress related 
surveys, blood parameters, physical measures, stress biomarkers 
(cortisol) and telomere length data.
    To meet the aims of the current study NIOSH has contracted with UB 
to recruit 200 police officers who previously participated in a BCOPS 
study. Priority will be placed on recruiting officers who participated 
in the last BCOPS study (n=240). If 200 of the 240 officers cannot be 
recruited, then UB will try to recruit any officer who has previously 
participated in a BCOPS study. A subset of the surveys and biological 
data collected as part of the BCOPS studies will be repeated for this 
study. By comparing the responses of the surveys and physical data

[[Page 35296]]

collected as part of BCOPS (prior to COVID-19), to those obtained 
during this study, NIOSH can evaluate the longitudinal physical and 
psychological health effects of COVID-19 on the police officers.
    To meet the aims of this study there will be two rounds of data 
collection. The first round will consist of collecting both the mental 
and physical health data. The second round, approximately 6-8 months 
later, will consist of collecting the mental health and medical history 
surveys only.
    During the first round, letters will be sent to officers who 
participated in the previous BCOPS study asking them to voluntarily 
participate in this study. Once they agree, a letter of introduction 
will be sent. If an officer hasn't responded after two letters have 
been sent, UB will contact the officers by phone. If the officer 
declines to participate they will no longer be contacted. For officers 
who agree to participate, UB will coordinate the scheduling of officers 
with the police department and will not schedule officers more than one 
month in advance. Scheduling will be flexible.
    At their designated appointment, all participants will complete the 
paper and pencil questionnaires then complete the clinical exam, which 
will entail a fasting blood draw (approximately four tablespoons), 
measuring the participants' height, weight, abdominal height, waist 
circumference and neck circumference, and taking their blood pressure.
    Cortisol saliva testing will be done outside of the clinic at the 
participant's residence by the participant. Participants will be 
provided with Salivettes (Sarstedt, USA), a commercially available 
collection device consisting of dental rolls and centrifuge tubes, to 
take with them when the leave the clinic for the collection of saliva 
samples. Participants will be given instructions on how to collect the 
samples to be taken the day after they leave the clinic. The 
participant will be asked to return the saliva samples to the clinic 
when completed either in person or via paid postage. This ends the 
clinic visit. UB will advise the participant upon departing during 
round one that they would like to contact them again in 6-8 months to 
complete the same surveys they did in the clinic.
    For the second round, UB will conduct a follow-up survey 
approximately 6-8 months after the clinic visit. Each officer who 
participated in the first round and who agreed to participate in the 
second round, will be sent the same set of psychological surveys, the 
medical history questionnaire, and a follow-up COVID questionnaire. The 
psychological surveys will be the same surveys they did during the 
first round, while the COVID questionnaire asks additional questions 
related to their experience with COVID since the clinic visit. They 
will not be asked to complete the personal history questionnaire the 
second time. This second set of questionnaires allows NIOSH to meet the 
study aims.
    The Burden Table lists the estimated population size of 200 police 
officers who will respond to 16 psychosocial questionnaires, 
serological (blood) collection, and salivary cortisol at the first 
round. All officers who participate in the first round and who have 
agreed, will be mailed the medical history questionnaire and 
psychosocial questionnaires 6-8 months later (second round). Biological 
samples will not be collected during the second round. We anticipate 
that up to 10% of the participants may not present for testing during 
either the first round or second round of questionnaires. Therefore, we 
estimate that 180 officers will complete both rounds of the data 
collection. The total burden hours for all surveys, serological sample 
collection, and salivary cortisol is 596. There are no costs to the 
respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Number of      Average burden
         Type of respondents                 Form name            Number of      responses per     per response
                                                                 respondents       respondent       (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police officers.....................  Letter of Invitation...              240                1             1/60
                                      Letter of Introduction.              200                1             7/60
                                      Eligibility Screening                200                1             5/60
                                       Form.
                                      Personal history.......              180                1             2/60
                                      Medical history........              180                2             8/60
                                      Spielberger Stress                   180                2             7/60
                                       Survey.
                                      Center for                           180                2             2/60
                                       Epidemiologic Studies
                                       Depression Scale.
                                      Brief Cope.............              180                2             3/60
                                      Organizational Support               180                2             2/60
                                       Scale.
                                      Maslach Burnout........              180                2             2/60
                                      Fatigue Scale..........              180                2             2/60
                                      Posttraumatic Stress                 180                2             2/60
                                       Disorder-5.
                                      Connor-Davidson                      180                2             1/60
                                       Resiliency Scale.
                                      Beck Anxiety...........              180                2             3/60
                                      Pittsburgh Sleep         ...............                2             2/60
                                       Quality Index.
                                      Beck Depression........              180                2             3/60
                                      Beck Hopelessness......              180                2             2/60
                                      COVID-19 Round 1.......              180                1             3/60
                                      COVID-19 Round 2.......              180                1             3/60
                                      Civil Unrest/Public                  180                2             3/60
                                       Perception/work
                                       environment.
                                      Serological Sample                   180                1                1
                                       collection.
                                      Salivary Cortisol                    180                1            30/60
                                       collection.
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[[Page 35297]]

Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-14225 Filed 7-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P