48578 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 23, 2009 / Notices 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: Bethesda Marriott Suites, 6711 

Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817. 

Contact Person: Maria E. Davila-Bloom, 

PhD, Scientific Review Officer, Review 

Branch, DEA, NIDDK, National Institutes of 

Health, Room 758, 6707 Democracy 

Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892–5452, (301) 

594–7637, davilabloomm@extra.niddk.nih.gov. 

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.847, Diabetes, 

Endocrinology and Metabolic Research; 

93.848, Digestive Diseases and Nutrition 

Research; 93.849, Kidney Diseases, Urology 

and Hematology Research, National Institutes 

of Health, HHS) 

Dated: September 16, 2009. 

Jennifer Spaeth, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. E9–22977 Filed 9–22–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

Council of Public Representatives 

(COPR, http://copr.nih.gov/) and the 

Office of Communications and Public 

Liaison (OCPL), Office of the Director, 

NIH (http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/ocpl/ 

index.html); Request for Information 

(RFI) on Consumer Health Information 

Interests and Behaviors for Seeking 

and Using Health Information 

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI) on 

Consumer Health Information Interests 

and Behaviors for Seeking and Using 

Health Information. 

DATES: Response Date: December 30, 

2009. 

Introduction: Request for Information 

January 21, 2009, President Obama 

issued a directive to all Federal agencies 

calling for greater transparency, public 

participation, and collaboration. 

In response to this Directive, and in 

keeping with the work that has already 

been done by the National Institutes of 

Health (NIH) to encourage public input 

and provide science-based health 

resources and science information to the 

public, NIH posts this Request for 

Information (RFI) to offer a new public 

input opportunity. The RFI will provide 

insight and better understanding of the 

health information needs and 

information-seeking behaviors of NIH 

health consumer audiences. Information 

gathered will assist the agency in 

developing and disseminating health, 

medical, and scientific information to a 

broader variety of audiences. The 

agency anticipates using new outreach 

strategies and tools, from communitylevel outlets to Internet-based social 

media. Members of the public as well as 

organizations are invited and 

encouraged to participate in this public 

input opportunity. 

The RFI is a collaborative effort 

between the NIH Office of 

Communications and Public Liaison 

(OCPL) and the NIH Director’s Council 

of Public Representatives (COPR). COPR 

is a Federal Advisory Committee 

covered by the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). 

The COPR is composed of up to 21 

members of the public who provide the 

public’s perspective into the NIH 

research priority-setting process as well 

as the Agency’s public health education 

and public engagement efforts. 

NIH is part of the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services and is the 

primary Federal agency for conducting 

and supporting biomedical and 

behavioral research. NIH is the steward 

of medical and behavioral research for 

the Nation. Composed of 27 Institutes 

and Centers, the NIH provides 

leadership and financial support to 

researchers in more than 3,000 

institutions in all 50 States, the 

territories and in more than 90 countries 

around the world. Its mission is science 

in pursuit of fundamental knowledge 

about the nature and behavior of living 

systems and the application of that 

knowledge to extend healthy life and 

reduce the burdens of illness and 

disability. 

NIH also has a responsibility to 

communicate science-based, 

trustworthy public health and science 

information to a wide range of 

audiences, including the public at large, 

patients, family members, health care 

providers, scientists, public health 

workers, nonprofit health organizations, 

and professional societies. These 

audiences have differing needs for the 

information available from the NIH. 

Building on its previous experience and 

record of success, NIH recognizes the 

need to communicate cutting-edge 

research advances to ensure continued 

improved health for all Americans in a 

changing media and information 

environment. For background 

information on the RFI, please visit this 

Web site http:// 

nihhealthinfoRFI.nih.gov. 

Information Requested 

The Request for Information (RFI) 

serves as a vehicle to obtain public 

comments on how NIH can best address 

communication challenges and 

requirements for the 21st century in the 

face of increased demands and 

shrinking resources. 

The purpose of the RFI is to obtain 

information aimed at helping the NIH 

strengthen short- and long-term 

communications strategies while 

identifying cost-effective, meritorious, 

innovative, and legally sanctioned 

methods and outlets for disseminating 

health information to the public. 

Specifically, the RFI seeks information 

on the following: 

• The current state and range of 

health information-seeking behaviors 

and trends; 

• The range of health information of 

interest to the public; 

• How the public accesses and uses 

health information; and 

• The barriers that might impede 

NIH’s ability to communicate with 

health consumers. 

Submitting Responses 

Responses will be accepted through 

December 30, 2009. Please limit 

responses to the maximum number of 

words indicated for each response. 

Responses may be submitted on the 

Web, by e-mail or by postal mail. See 

below for instructions. 

1. Visit the Consumer Health 

Information Request for Information 

Web Site at http:// 

nihhealthinfoRFI.nih.gov to submit 

responses on the Web or to download 

the response sheet to submit by e-mail 

or mail. 

2. Complete the RFI questions 

attached in typed or written format. 

Responders should complete either the 

Requested Response for Health 

Consumers or the Requested Response 

for Organizations and Health Care 

Providers. 

3. E-mail typed responses to this 

address HealthInfoRFI@mail.nih.gov. 

4. Mail typed or handwritten 

responses to Kelli Carrington or Marin 

Allen, Ph.D., Office of Communications 

and Public Liaison, National Institutes 

of Health, 1 Center Drive, Room 344, 

Bethesda, MD 20892–0188. 

Privacy Act Notification Statement 

Collection of this information is 

authorized under 5 U.S.C. 301; 44 

U.S.C. 3101. The primary use of this 

information is to obtain information 

from the public aimed at helping the 

National Institutes of Health strengthen 

short- and long-term communications 

strategies while identifying costeffective, meritorious, innovative, and 

legally sanctioned methods and outlets 

for disseminating health information to 

the public. Upon completion of the 

Request for Information activities, the 

NIH Director’s Council of Public 

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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 23, 2009 / Notices 48579 

Representatives (COPR) will produce a 

final report with recommendations to 

the NIH Director, which will be 

available to the public and posted at this 

Web site http://copr.nih.gov/reports.asp. 

Submission of this information is 

voluntary, however, in order for us to 

consider your comments, you should 

complete all fields. 

Inspection of Public Comments: All 

comments received before the close of 

the comment period are available for 

viewing by the public, including any 

personally identifiable or confidential 

business information that is included in 

a comment. 

Acknowledgement of receipt of 

written responses will not be made. 

Responses submitted electronically will 

receive notice of submission directly 

following data entry. 

The RFI is for information and 

planning purposes only and should not 

be construed as a solicitation or as an 

obligation on the part of the 

Government. By providing comments 

you are consenting to their 

consideration and use by the NIH. 

The Government does not intend to 

award a grant or contract on the basis of 

the responses to this RFI nor pay for the 

preparation of any information 

submitted or for the Government’s use 

of such information. 

No basis for claims against the 

Government shall arise as a result of a 

response to this Request for Information 

or the Government’s use of such 

information as either part of our 

evaluation process or in developing 

specifications for any subsequent 

announcement. 

Inquiries 

For questions about the RFI, please 

use the following contact information: 

Kelli Carrington or Dr. Marin Allen 

(HealthInfoRFI@mail.nih.gov) Office of 

Communications and Public Liaison, 

National Institutes of Health, 1 Center 

Drive, Room 344, Bethesda, MD 20892– 

0188, phone (301) 496–5787. 

For questions about personal medical 

or health issues, please send a separate 

e-mail to NIHinfo@od.nih.gov or call 

301–496–4000. Medical and health 

questions included in the RFI response 

can not receive a response due to 

Federal Privacy Act compliance. 

We are grateful for your time and 

effort on behalf of improving our 

delivery of health and science 

information. 

Requested Response for Health 

Consumers (19 Questions) 

Demographic Information 

1. Describe the city and State you 

represent. 

2. Indicate what kind of community 

you live in (for example, rural, urban, or 

suburban). 

3. Indicate your gender. 

4. Describe your racial/ethnic 

background (for example American 

Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or 

African American, Native Hawaiian or 

Other Pacific Islander, White, and 

Other; ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino, not 

Hispanic or Latino). 

5. Indicate your highest level of 

education (for example, less than high 

school, high school graduate or GED, 

some college or associate’s degree, or 

bachelor’s, master’s or post-graduate 

degree such as PhD, MD, JD). 

6. Indicate which age range you seek 

health information for the most (for 

example 18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 

60–69, 70 or older). 

7. Indicate your income range (for 

example: $0–4,999, $5,000–9,999, 

$10,000–14,999, $15,000–19,999, 

$20,000–29,999, $30,000–39,999, 

$40,000–49,999, $50,000–69,999, 

$70,000–89,999, $90,000–$119,999, 

$120,000 and over). 

8. Indicate your primary role (for 

example health consumer, parent, 

family caregiver, student, teacher, 

member nonprofit health-related 

organization, etc.). [Please use 10 words 

or less.] 

Health Information 

NIH produces a large amount of 

health materials and resources on a 

wide variety of health topics for 

audiences that include patients, family 

members and caregivers, medical, 

health and policy professionals, 

legislatures, and media professionals. 

Your responses to the questions below 

will help NIH better understand what 

new topics health consumers seek and 

better tailor the information we 

disseminate. 

1. Please describe the health topic(s) 

that are currently important to you, your 

family members and/or friends (for 

example information on diseases, 

prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and 

health for women, men, teens, children, 

etc.). [Please use 50 words or less.] 

2. List the language(s) that you would 

request health information for yourself, 

your family members and/or friends. 

[Please use 20 words or less.] 

Health Information Sources 

NIH disseminates research advances 

to improve health and quality of life for 

all. Your responses to the questions 

below will help fulfill our mission to 

serve as a primary source of health 

information for consumers we may not 

be reaching and using sources ranging 

from community locations, to national 

organizations to new Internet sources 

such as online forums, blogs, podcasts, 

social network sites, wikis and other 

social media. 

1. Describe how you found the most 

recent health information you were 

looking for (for example what you were 

looking for, what steps did you take to 

find the information, what information 

did you find most useful, and what 

sources were most helpful and least 

helpful). [Please use 200 words or less.] 

2. Describe how you would find 

health information for a friend or family 

member who was recently diagnosed 

with a health problem (for example 

cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, 

arthritis, Alzheimer’s, glaucoma). 

Identify what you would be looking for, 

what steps would you take to find the 

information, what information would 

you find most useful, and what sources 

would you think would be most helpful 

and least helpful). [Please use 200 

words or less.] 

3. Describe the best places you go to 

in your community for health 

information for you, your family, friends 

and neighbors (for example local 

organizations, community newspapers, 

clinics, community or health care 

centers, grocery stores, pharmacies, 

other retail outlets, places of worship, 

barber shops, beauty salons, etc.). 

[Please use 200 words or less.] 

4. List the types of Internet resources 

you use to get health information and 

which are the most helpful (for 

example, online forums, blogs, podcasts, 

social network sites, wikis). Indicate 

why you use these sites (for example to 

get information, to participate in 

discussion, to pose questions, to post 

comments, etc.) [Please use 200 words 

or less.] 

5. List ideas you have for NIH to 

distribute health information to specific 

audiences in your community and 

indicate which audiences and what 

language(s). [Please use 200 words or 

less.] 

NIH Awareness and Role in Health 

Communications 

NIH has a responsibility to 

communicate science-based, 

trustworthy public health and science 

information to a wide range of 

audiences, including the public at large, 

patients, family members, health care 

providers, scientists, public health 

workers, nonprofit health organizations, 

and professional societies. Your 

responses to the following questions 

will help us understand how familiar 

health consumers are with the agency’s 

efforts to provide health information. 

1. Describe how important the source 

or place where you get health 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES

48580 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 23, 2009 / Notices 

information is to you (for example, very 

important, important, not important). 

[Please use 20 words or less.] 

2. Describe how you decide whether 

the health information you receive is 

trustworthy or believable. [Please use 

100 words or less.] 

3. Indicate whether you have ever 

requested health information from the 

NIH and describe your experience, 

including the type(s) of information you 

requested and how you received it (for 

example Web site, clearinghouse, health 

fair). Also describe how frequently you 

request information from NIH and when 

was the most recent time (for example 

6 months, 12 months, 2 years. [Please 

use 100 words or less.] 

Open Response on Health Information 

1. Describe any additional 

information you would like NIH to 

know about health information and/or 

health information resources. [Please 

use 300 words or less.] 

Requested Responses for Organizations 

and Health Care Providers (10 

Questions) 

General Information 

1. Describe your organization’s reach 

(for example, local, regional, national). 

[Please use 100 words or less.] 

2. Indicate your primary role (for 

example leader of nonprofit healthrelated organization, clinician, 

physician, nurse, clinic or hospital staff, 

other allied health professional, 

professional caregiver, etc.). [Please use 

10 words or less.] 

3. Describe the services your 

organization or practice provides to its 

members/patients, including how you 

communicate with them. [Please use 

200 words or less.] 

4. Indicate the languages your 

members/patients seek health 

information. [Please use 20 words or 

less.] 

Health Information 

NIH produces a large number of 

health, medical, and science education 

materials and resources on a wide 

variety of health topics for audiences 

that include patients, family members 

and caregivers, medical, health and 

policy professionals, legislatures, and 

media professionals. Your response to 

the question below will help NIH better 

understand what new topics health 

consumers seek and better tailor the 

information we disseminate. 

1. Please describe the health topics 

that are currently important to your 

members/patients (for example 

information on diseases, prevention, 

diagnosis, treatment, and health for 

women, men, teens, children, etc.) 

Identify what language(s) the topics are 

requested. [Please use 100 words or 

less.] 

Health Information Sources 

NIH disseminates research advances 

to improve health and quality of life for 

all. Your responses to the questions 

below will help fulfill our mission to 

serve as a primary source of health 

information for consumers we may not 

be reaching and using sources ranging 

from community locations, to national 

organizations to new Internet sources 

such as online forums, blogs, podcasts, 

social network sites, wikis and other 

social media. 

1. Indicate how you think NIH should 

use the new Internet sources to send 

health information to your members/ 

patients and describe the cases when 

NIH should use these sources (for 

example, online forums, blogs, podcasts, 

social network sites, wikis). [Please use 

200 words or less.] 

2. List ideas you have for NIH to 

distribute health information to specific 

audiences and indicate which audiences 

and how to reach them (for example 

local, regional, or national channels, 

print, online, in-person events). [Please 

use 200 words or less.] 

NIH Awareness and Role in Health 

Communications 

NIH has a responsibility to 

communicate science-based, 

trustworthy public health and science 

information to a wide range of 

audiences, including the public at large, 

patients, family members, health care 

providers, scientists, public health 

workers, nonprofit health organizations, 

and professional societies. Your 

responses to the following questions 

will help us assess how familiar our 

audiences are with the agency’s efforts 

to provide health information. 

1. Please describe your organization’s 

or practice’s understanding of the NIH’s 

role in (a) disseminating health 

information and (b) meeting the health 

information needs of the public. [Please 

use 200 words or less.] 

2. Please describe how NIH can better 

communicate results of Federallyfunded biomedical and behavioral 

research initiatives for maximum impact 

on the nation’s health, both within your 

organization or practice and directly to 

the wider public. [Please use 200 words 

or less.] 

Open Response on Health Information 

1. Describe any additional 

information you would like NIH to 

know about health information and/or 

health information resources. [Please 

use 300 words or less.] 

Contact Person: Kelli L. Carrington, 

MA, Executive Secretary/Public Liaison 

Officer, Office of Communications and 

Public Liaison, Office of the Director, 

National Institutes of Health, 9000 

Rockville Pike, Building 1, Room 344, 

Bethesda, MD 20892. 301–594–4575. 

carringk@mail.nih.gov. 

Dated: September 17, 2009. 

Kelli L. Carrington, 

Executive Secretary/Public Liaison Officer, 

Office of Communications and Public Liaison. 

[FR Doc. E9–22972 Filed 9–22–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Coast Guard 

[USCG–2009–0874] 

National Offshore Safety Advisory 

Committee; Meeting 

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The National Offshore Safety 

Advisory Committee (NOSAC) will 

meet, in Ocean Springs MS, to discuss 

various issues relating to offshore safety 

and security. The meeting will be open 

to the public. 

DATES: NOSAC will meet on Thursday, 

November 5, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 

p.m. This meeting may close early if all 

business is finished. Written material 

and requests to make oral presentations 

should reach the Coast Guard on or 

before October 22, 2009. Requests to 

have a copy of your material distributed 

to each member of the committee 

should reach the Coast Guard on or 

before October 22, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: NOSAC will meet in the 

‘‘Banquet Hall’’ room of the Gulf Hills 

Hotel and Conference Center, 13701 

Paso Road, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 

Send written material and requests to 

make oral presentations to Commander 

P.W. Clark, Designated Federal Officer 

(DFO), Commandant (CG–5222), U.S. 

Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, SW., 

STOP 7126, Washington, DC 20593– 

7126. This notice is available on our 

online docket, USCG–2009–0874, at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Commander P.W. Clark, Designated 

Federal Officer of NOSAC, or Mr. Jim 

Magill, Assistant Designated Federal 

Officer, telephone 202–372–1414, fax 

202–372–1926. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of 

this meeting is given under the Federal 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES