Notice2021-17350
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 13, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44727-44728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17350]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-21-0572]
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 published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations'' notice on May 26, 2021 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. Comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. 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
Health Message Testing System (HMTS) (OMB Control No. 0920-0572,
Exp. 8/31/2021)--Extension--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.
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
[[Page 44728]]
most message testing. This package includes generic questions and
formats that can be 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. 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 from the public quickly. Over the last
three years, more than 32 messages have been tested using this
clearance. Examples include:
CDC Older Adult Injury Prevention Creative Campaign--Survey. This
health communication campaign aimed to support and expand upon CDC's
older adult injury prevention efforts and to raise awareness among
older adults and their caregivers about preventable injuries that
disproportionately impact them, steps to reduce their risk of injuries,
and increase education about risk factors. Information collected can
assist in the most effective use of CDC communication resources and
opportunities by assessing clarity, appeal, persuasiveness and
effectiveness of campaign material and advertisements (i.e., poster or
video advertisement).
The Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) obtained OMB
approval through HMTS for Health Communications Testing for Latent
Tuberculosis Infections (LTBI) Campaign for CDC's National Center for
HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. This collection was
used to inform NCHHSTP/DTBE's future public service campaign efforts
targeted to consumers at high-risk for LTBI, and the providers who
serve them. This information collection activity is essential because
it will provide CDC with effective messages for communicating about
this disease and infection to motivate at-risk consumers to get
preventive screening and, if infected, treatment, and to motivate
healthcare providers to encourage testing and early detection.
The Division of Diabetes Translation obtained OMB approval through
HMTS for Message Testing for Diabetes Self-Management Education and
Support (DSMES) Marketing Support: Card Sort Activity. Findings from
this message testing effort were used by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT)
to inform how best to communicate with key audiences about DSMES
services. Specifically, information about which attributes of DSMES
services are most important to each audience will be identified and
will serve as the basis for messages developed to promote DSMES
services. This work will help increase the likelihood that messages
will resonate and be understood as intended.
Over 27,696 respondents were queried and over 6,100 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. Based on
anticipated use, CDC requests approval for an estimated 2,470 annual
burden hours (7,410 over the course of the three-year approval). There
is no cost to the respondents other than their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response
respondents respondent (in hours)
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Public Health Professionals, Health Moderator's Guides, 18,525 1 8/60
Care Providers, State and Local Eligibility Screeners,
Public Health Officials, Emergency Interview Guides,
Responders, General Public. Opinion Surveys,
Consent Forms.
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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. 2021-17350 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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