Notice2024-12234
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
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
June 4, 2024
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled Health Message Testing System (HMTS). The HMTS is a Generic information collection that enables programs across CDC to test proposed health messages on a target audience before these messages are disseminated to the public.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47965-47966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12234]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-24-0572; Docket No. CDC-2024-0044]
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice with comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the
utility of government information, invites the general public and other
Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project
titled Health Message Testing System (HMTS). The HMTS is a Generic
information collection that enables programs across CDC to test
proposed health messages on a target audience before these messages are
disseminated to the public.
DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before August 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2024-
0044 by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments
to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking
portal (<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>) or by U.S. mail to the address listed
above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570;
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93fcfef1d3f0f7f0bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="81eeece3c1e2e5e2afe6eef7">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires
Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a
proposed data collection as described below.
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
1. 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;
2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
4. 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
submissions of responses; and
5. Assess information collection costs.
Proposed Project
Health Message Testing System (HMTS) (OMB Control No. 0920-0572,
Exp. 10/31/2024)--Extension--Office of Communication (OC), 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) is a Generic information
collection, that 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
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
[[Page 47966]]
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 22 messages have been tested using this
clearance. CDC's Division of Tuberculosis Elimination was approved to
conduct message testing for their Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)
Awareness Campaign within target audiences--non-US-born Vietnamese and
Filipino persons and the healthcare professionals (primary care
physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) that serve
them. Assessing the immediate effects of campaign materials provides
helpful insights that can be used to inform adjustments of campaign
materials for intended audiences.
CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO)
is tasked with leading our nation's efforts to prevent chronic diseases
by promoting good nutrition, regular physical activity, and a healthy
weight. One of the key ways DNPAO does this is by providing State and
community partners with practical tools to promote healthy lifestyles
such as the SCHMC communication resources. It is imperative that this
ad testing be conducted so that CDC/DNPAO can best support grantees and
local partners by providing timely information about how specific ads
resonate with key audiences. The insights gained from the ad testing
also provided DNPAO with timely information to inform development of
additional ads and communication materials that they will resonate with
audiences and lead to intended actions/behavior changes related to
increasing physical activity, reducing sugary drink consumption, and
improving infant and toddler nutrition.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
collected data to assess older adults' perceptions of products
developed as part of the expansion phase of CDC's Still Going Strong
Campaign. Digital products were developed as part of this effort to
expand the campaign to address social connectedness and isolation. The
messages conveyed the importance of social connectedness to health to
maintaining a high quality of life as we age. Participants learned
about how social connectedness as well as physical and mental health
are interconnected and critical to the well-being of older adults.
Over 17,307 respondents were queried and over 5,400 burden hours
used during this time period. Because the availability of this data
collection has been so critical to programs in disseminating their
materials and information to the public in a timely manner, The Office
of Communications is requesting a three-year Extension of this
information collection. CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated
2,470 annual burden hours. 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 Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
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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.
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Total...................... ................. ........... .............. ............... 2,470
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-12234 Filed 6-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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