[Federal Register: October 18, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 200)]
[Notices]
[Page 61382-61383]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18oc04-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection
project:
[[Page 61383]]
``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and Research
for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality''. In accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed
information collection.
This proposed information collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on August 16th, 2004 and allowed 60 Days for
public comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this
notice is to allow an additional 30 Days for public comment.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 17, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: John Kraemer, at
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB at the email
address John_Kraemer@omb.eop.gov and the fax number is (202) 395-6974.
Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
``Questionnaire and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, and Research
for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality''
AHRQ plans to employ the latest techniques to improve it's current
data collections by developing new surveys, and by revising existing
surveys in anticipation of, or in response to, changes in the
healthcare field, for a 3 year period. The clearance request is limited
to testing research questionnaires, data collection methods, and
related reports. Data collected under this clearance will be used to
improve agency products and such data are not intended for direct use
in the development of health policy. The final instruments will be used
for subsequent data collections that may impact health policies. A
generic clearance for his work will allow AHRQ to draft and test survey
instruments more quickly and with greater lead time, thereby managing
project time more efficiently and improving the quality of the data it
collects.
It is envisioned that in some instances the ability to pretest/
pilot-test survey-related instruments, in anticipation of work, or
early in a project, may result in the decision not to proceed with
particular survey activities, thereby saving both public and private
resources and effectively eliminating or reducing respondent burden.
The health care environment changes rapidly and requires a quick
response from the agency to provide appropriately refined tools. A
generic clearance for this methodological work will facilitate the
agency's timely development of survey tools suitable for use in
changing conditions.
It is particularly important to refine AHRQ's survey tools because
many of the survey tools AHRQ develops are made widely available to
users in the private sector. They are made available to help the
private sector improve health care quality by enabling the gathering of
useful data for analysis and for providing information about health
care quality to consumers and purchasers so that they can use their
marketplace choices to influence and improve health care quality.
Methods of Collection
Participation in survey testing will be fully voluntary and non-
participation will have no affect on eligibility for, or receipt of,
future AHRQ health services research support or on future opportunities
to participate in research or to obtain informative research results.
Specific estimation procedures, when used, will be described when we
notify OMB as to actual studies conducted under the clearance.
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Total
Type of research activity Number of Estimated time per respondent burden
respondents hours
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Face-to-Face Interviews...................... 100 60 minutes........................... 100
Field Tests (short).......................... 2,400 20 minutes........................... 800
Field Tests (long)........................... 7,600 30 minutes........................... 3,800
Lab Experiments.............................. 200 90 minutes........................... 300
Focus Groups................................. 100 60 minutes........................... 100
Cognitive Interviews......................... 100 60 minutes........................... 100
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Totals................................... 10,500 Not Applicable....................... 5,200
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Estimated Costs to the Federal Government
Expenses for equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff will
be incurred by AHRQ components as part of their normal operating
budgets. No additional cost to the Federal Government is anticipated.
Any deviation from these limits will be noted in reports made to OMB
with respect to a particular study or studies conducted under the
clearance.
Request for Comments
In accordance with the above-cited legislation, comments on the
AHRQ information collection are requested with regard to any of the
following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of functions of AHRQ, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy
of the AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and cost) 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 upon the
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: October 4, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-23234 Filed 10-15-04; 8:45 am]
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