[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32124-32126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14796]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-18-0572]


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 Health Message Testing System (HMTS) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC 
previously

[[Page 32125]]

published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on May 10, 2018 to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies. CDC received one non-substantive comment. 
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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ee1e3ecceedeaeda0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a7c8cac5e7c4c3c489c0c8d1">[email protected]</span></a>. 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

    Health Message Testing System (HMTS) 0920-0572, Reinstatement 
without change, Office of the Associate Director for Communication 
(OADC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Before CDC disseminates a health message to the public, the message 
always undergoes scientific review. However, even though the message is 
based on sound scientific content, there is no guarantee that the 
public will understand a health message or that the message will move 
people to take recommended action. Communication theorists and 
researchers agree that for health messages to be as clear and 
influential as possible, target audience members or representatives 
must be involved in developing the messages and provisional versions of 
the messages must be tested with members of the target audience.
    However, increasingly there are circumstances when CDC must move 
swiftly to protect life, prevent disease, or calm public anxiety. 
Health message testing is even more important in these instances, 
because of the critical nature of the information need.
    In the interest of timely health message dissemination, many 
programs forgo the important step of testing messages on dimensions 
such as clarity, salience, appeal, and persuasiveness (i.e., the 
ability to influence behavioral intention). Skipping this step avoids 
the delay involved in the standard OMB review process, but at a high 
potential cost. Untested messages can waste communication resources and 
opportunities because the messages can be perceived as unclear or 
irrelevant. Untested messages can also have unintended consequences, 
such as jeopardizing the credibility of Federal health officials.
    The Health Message Testing System (HMTS), a generic information 
collection, enables programs across CDC to collect the information they 
require in a timely manner to:
    <bullet> Ensure quality and prevent waste in the dissemination of 
health information by CDC to the public.
    <bullet> Refine message concepts and to test draft materials for 
clarity, salience, appeal, and persuasiveness to target audiences.
    <bullet> Guide the action of health communication officials who are 
responding to health emergencies, Congressionally-mandated campaigns 
with short timeframes, media-generated public concern, time-limited 
communication opportunities, trends, and the need to refresh materials 
or dissemination strategies in an ongoing campaign.
    Each testing instrument will be based on specific health issues or 
topics. Although it is not possible to develop one instrument for use 
in all instances, the same kinds of questions are asked in most message 
testing. This package includes generic questions and formats that can 
used to develop health message testing data collection instruments. 
These include a list of screening questions, comprised of demographic 
and introductory questions, along with other questions that can be used 
to create a mix of relevant questions for each proposed message testing 
data collection method. However, programs may request to use additional 
questions if needed.
    Message testing questions will focus on issues such as 
comprehension, impressions, personal relevance, content and wording, 
efficacy of response, channels, and spokesperson/sponsor. Such 
information will enable message developers to enhance the effectiveness 
of messages for intended audiences.
    Data collection methods proposed for HMTS include intercept 
interviews, telephone interviews, focus groups, online surveys, and 
cognitive interviews. In almost all instances, data will be collected 
by outside organizations under contract with CDC.
    For many years CDC programs have used HMTS to test and refine 
message concepts and test draft materials for clarity, salience, 
appeal, and persuasiveness to target audiences. Having this generic 
clearance available has enabled them to test their information and get 
critical health information out to the public quickly. Over the last 
three years, more than 30 messages have been tested using this 
clearance. For example: Domestic Readiness Initiative on Zika Virus 
Disease-Year 2 Core Campaign Materials. As part of the mission of CDC's 
Domestic Readiness Initiative on the Zika Virus Disease, CDC collected 
information to inform an outcome evaluation to determine the extent to 
which the campaign affected awareness, attitudes, and intention to 
follow recommended behaviors at different points during the campaign. 
The goal of the evaluation was to better understand awareness of 
campaign activities, how people perceive Zika as a health risk, and 
assess their uptake of recommended health behaviors, such as applying 
insect repellent, using condoms, and wearing long-sleeved clothing.
    The Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention obtained OMB 
approval through HMTS for Assessing Perception and Use of CDC Guideline 
for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. The purpose of this 
collection is to assess primary care physician's perceptions and use of 
communication materials and products associated with the CDC Guideline 
for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Information collected can 
assist in the most effective use of CDC communication resources and 
opportunities by assessing clarity, salience, appeal, persuasiveness 
and effectiveness of materials promoting the dissemination and 
implementation of the Guideline. Specifically, CDC seeks

[[Page 32126]]

to understand how primary care physicians perceive, need, and implement 
the Guideline to make prescribing decisions; how they need, obtain, and 
use supplementary and promotional Guideline materials developed by CDC 
for professional development or patient education; and what attitudinal 
and structural barriers may inhibit primary care provider adoption of 
the recommendations in the Guideline.
    Over 10,000 respondents were queried and over 4,500 burden hours 
used during this time period. Because the availability of this ICR has 
been so critical to programs in disseminating their materials and 
information to the public in a timely manner, OADC is requesting a 
three year extension of this information collection. The estimated 
annualized burden hours is 2,470. There is no cost 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    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Health Professionals,    Moderator's               18,525               1            8/60           2,470
 Health Care Providers, State    Guides,
 and Local Public Health         Eligibility
 Officials, Emergency            Screeners,
 Responders, General Public.     Interview
                                 Guides, Opinion
                                 Surveys,
                                 Consent Forms.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           2,470
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Acting 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. 2018-14796 Filed 7-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P


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