[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6602-6604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3057]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-00-23]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques for other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Preventing Latex Allergy Among Non-Healthcare Workers--New--The 
mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) is to promote ``safety and

[[Page 6603]]

health at work for all people through research and prevention.'' In 
order to carry out this goal effectively and efficiently, NIOSH and the 
occupational safety and health community implemented the National 
Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) in 1996. NORA is the first step in 
an ongoing, synergistic effort by the various institutions of the 
occupational safety and health community to identify and research the 
most important workplace safety and health issues. In order to 
accomplish the NORA objectives in preventing latex allergy, NIOSH is 
conducting health communication research to determine the most 
effective means of communicating the NIOSH recommendations for 
preventing latex allergy.
    Allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) has become a significant 
health risk among healthcare workers and other persons using latex 
gloves in the course of their work [NIOSH 1997; Turjanmaa et al. 1996; 
Watts et al. 1998]. A number of studies indicate that levels of latex 
sensitization in healthcare workers ranges from 5-12% [Liss and Sussman 
1999]. One study indicated that the prevalence of latex sensitivity 
among 1,351 healthcare workers was 12.1%; and of that same 1,351 
workers, 60% reported work-related symptoms [Liss et al. 1997]. Despite 
the numerous studies performed in this population, little is known 
about the non-healthcare worker occupations. Occupational asthma and 
symptoms of latex allergy have been reported in select groups including 
hairdressers, workers at a latex glove manufacturing plant, and workers 
at a latex doll manufacturing plant. Prevalence rates up to 11% have 
been reported in these studies (11% and 9%, respectively, in the latter 
two studies) [Orfan et al. 1994; Tarlo et al. 1990; van der Walle and 
Brunsveld 1995). Although the prevalence rate for other non-healthcare 
worker populations is unknown, these studies indicate that workers 
exposed to latex gloves or products containing latex may also be at 
risk for latex allergy.
    In 1997, NIOSH published an ALERT concerning the risk of latex 
allergy in the workplace [NIOSH 1997]. This Alert provided specific 
recommendations to workers for the prevention of latex allergy and was 
distributed to workplaces most likely to contain latex exposure (i.e., 
care establishments). Since occupations reporting less frequent use of 
latex gloves or exposure to latex-containing products may also be at 
risk for latex allergy, it is important to design appropriate health 
interventions for these occupational groups as well. Therefore, the 
overall objective of this study is to develop a health intervention 
that (1) effectively communicates the NIOSH recommendations for 
preventing latex allergy to the appropriate, at-risk non-healthcare 
worker occupations and (2) promotes the use of the recommendations 
through corresponding attitude and behavior change.
    To accomplish this task, we propose to conduct a systematic, 
communication theory-based set of studies with a brochure adapted from 
the NIOSH Alert on latex allergy as the primary attitude concept. These 
experiments will be targeted at five non-healthcare worker occupational 
groups (hair dressers, daycare workers, police officers, food handlers, 
and housekeeping personnel). The framing postulate of the Prospect 
Theory and the Elaboration Likelihood Model will serve as the basis of 
the study [Tversky and Kahneman 1981; Petty and Cacioppo 1986] in which 
the combined effect of message framing and message expectancy on 
elaboration likelihood will be assessed. Specifically, participants 
will be randomly assigned to the conditions of a 2 (message framing: 
positive vs. negative) ' 2 (message expectancy: positive vs. negative) 
' 2 (argument quality: strong vs. stronger) factorial design and given 
a pretest, brochure with the appropriate test variables, and post test. 
In addition, the participants will be surveyed for a history of latex 
glove usage, allergy, latex allergy, or dermatitis in either themselves 
or their family members to determine if a history of allergy or glove 
usage predisposes them to be highly involved with the subject of latex 
allergy. Finally, the effect of the intervention on receiver attitude 
toward latex allergy and corresponding use of NIOSH recommendations one 
month following the intervention will be determined. The study will 
include several phases. First, effective communication variables will 
be identified in the pretesting phase and incorporated into test 
brochures. In addition, pre-test and post-test surveys will be 
pretested. A total of 160 participants will be recruited for the 
pretesting phase. In the second phase, the pilot test, the effect of 
message framing and message expectancy on elaboration likelihood will 
be assessed in a small scale, laboratory study. This pilot test will be 
conducted with a sample of university students (N = 300) who 
occasionally to intermittently wear latex gloves. Conducting the first 
study in the laboratory setting allows for consistent control over 
external variables during message pretesting, implementation, and 
testing. The knowledge obtained from this study will be used to improve 
the versions of the brochure to be used in the last phase, one study 
for each of the five occupational groups (a total of five studies). The 
goal of each study will be to determine the effect of message framing 
and message expectancy manipulations in increasing the receiver's 
elaboration about latex allergy prevention among five different 
occupational groups (N = 300 per group or 1,500 total participants). In 
addition, change in attitude and behavior will be assessed one month 
after exposure to the brochure. These combined studies will test the 
use of message framing and contrasts in message expectancy in applied 
health communication research. Specifically, the studies will assess 
the effectiveness of these communication variables in influencing 
attitude, intentions, and behavior concerning the prevention of latex 
allergy. The results and conclusions drawn from this project will be 
used to develop a health communication template based on message 
framing and increased systematic message processing.
    Overall, this study will contribute significantly to the knowledge 
concerning application of the message framing theory, provide NIOSH 
with specific recommendations for effective health communication, and 
provide a template for future health interventions. In addition, this 
study will identify effective methods of communicating health and 
safety messages to those populations not normally reached by NIOSH.
    Based on an average hourly wage of $10.00 among all occupational 
groups combined, the total cost to respondents is $17,450.

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                                                                                                                                Avg. burden
                                                                                                       Number of    Number of       per         Total
                  Respondents                                           Phases                        respondents   responses/    response    burden (in
                                                                                                                   respondents   (in hours)     hours)
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Hairdressers, food service personnel,            Pretesting Phase I.................................          150            1           .5           75
 housekeeping personnel, daycare workers,
 police officers.

[[Page 6604]]

 
Hairdressers, food service personnel,            Pretesting Phase II................................           10            1            2           20
 housekeeping personnel, daycare workers,
 police officers.
University students............................  Pilot Testing Phase................................          300            1           .5          150
Hairdressers, food service personnel,            Combined Studies...................................        1,500            2           .5        1,500
 housekeeping personnel, daycare workers,
 police officers.
                                                                                                     -------------                          ------------
      Totals...................................  ...................................................        1,960  ...........  ...........        1,745
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    Dated: February 2, 2000.
Nancy Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-3057 Filed 2-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P