Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: December 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 231)]

[Notices]

[Page 66546-66548]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr02de98-62]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[INFO-99-04]

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.

The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)--(0920-0353)--Revision--The National Center for Health Statistics--Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act states that the National Center for Health Statistics ``shall collect statistics on health resources * * * [and] utilization of health care, including utilization of * * * services of hospitals, extended care facilities, home health agencies, and other institutions.'' The data system responsible for collecting this data is the National Health Care Survey (NHCS). The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) is part of the Long-term Care Component of the NHCS. The NNHS was conducted in 1973-74, 1977, 1985, 1995, and 1997. NNHS data describe this major segment of the long-term care system and are used extensively for health care research, health planning and public policy. The survey provides detailed information on utilization

[[Page 66547]]

pattern that is needed in order to make accurate assessments of the effects of health care reform on the elderly. The NNHS also provides detailed information to assess the need for and costs associated with such care. The use of long-term care services will become an increasingly important issue as the population continues to age. Data from earlier NNHS collections have been used by the National Immunization Program at CDC, Office of the U.S. Attorney General, the Bureau of Health Professionals, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at NIH, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the American Health Care Association, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical, the Rand Corporation and by several newspapers and journals. NNHS data cover: baseline data on the characteristics of nursing homes in relation to their residents and staff, Medicare and Medicaid certification, costs to residents, sources of payment, residents' functional status and diagnoses. Data collection is planned for the period July-November, 1999. Survey design is in process now. Sample selection and preparation of layout forms will precede the data collection by several months. The total costs to respondents is estimated at $60,000.

No. of Average burden/ Respondents

No. of

responses/ response (in Total burden respondents respondent

hrs.)

(in hrs.)

Facility Questionnaire..........................

1,500

1

0.333

500 Current Resident Sampling List..................

1,500

1

0.333

500 Current Resident Questionnaire..................

1,500

6

0.17

1,530 Discharged Resident Sampling List...............

1,500

1

0.333

500 Discharged Resident Questionnaire...............

1,500

6

0.17

1,530

Total....................................... .............. .............. ..............

4,560

2. The Development and Implementation of a Theory-Based Health Communications Intervention to Decrease Silica Dust Exposure Among Masonry Workers--New

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-- Construction is the most frequently recorded industry on death certificates with mention of silicosis. Overexposure to crystalline silica is well documented in the construction industry, especially in brick laying and masonry. According to 1993 BLS data, there are 136,139 (at 24,362 establishments) masonry and brick laying workers in the U.S. and according to a recent study, approximately 17,400 masonry and plastering workers are exposed to at least five times the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL for crystalline silica) and of these workers, an estimated 80 percent of them are exposed to at least 10 times the NIOSH REL.

To effectively prevent silicosis, not only must control measures be improved, but workers must be persuaded to protect themselves and employers must be motivated to provide workers with proper engineering controls and training. Previous research has too often focused on the behaviors and attitudes of workers and not on employers. Since employers have a tremendous influence on the health of workers and since their motivations may differ from workers', it is important to focus on them as well. Well-designed and theory-driven communication interventions have the capacity to promote protective health behaviors. To develop messages that will have the greatest success at motivating workers to protect themselves and employers to protect their workers from silicosis, information on workers' and employers' beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors regarding silicosis must be determined. A recently completed pilot-study indicated a need to motivate employers to provide appropriate engineering controls and respiratory protection and a need to persuade workers to protect themselves.

The goal of this project is to develop a health communication intervention program targeting both masonry contractors and workers that will increase the use of engineering controls (specifically, wet- sawing) and respiratory protection. The aforementioned pilot study will serve as a foundation upon which the intervention will be developed. The effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated using a pre- post test questionnaire.

The study results will provide a basis for intervention programs that masonry contractors can use to educate their workers regarding risk of exposure to silica dust on masonry work sites. The methodology could be applied to other construction procedures such as jack hammering, sand blasting, and similar dust producing procedures to produce similar intervention programs. Eventually we would hope, silica exposures among construction workers would decrease significantly. The total cost to respondents is $0.00.

No. of Average burden/ Respondents

No. of

responses/ response (in Total burden respondents respondent

hrs.)

(in hrs.)

Workers........................................

200

2

0.33

132 Contractors....................................

20

2

0.33

13.2

Total...................................... .............. .............. ..............

145.2

[[Page 66548]]

Dated: November 25, 1998. Charles W. Gollmar, Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 98-32056Filed12-1-98; 8:45 am]

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