[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10900-10902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4130]
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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) approve the proposed information collection
project: ``Comparative Effectiveness Research--Continuing Education.''
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521,
AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information
collection.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 29, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz,
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by e-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
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: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477, or by e-mail at
doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
Comparative Effectiveness Research--Continuing Education
Previous dissemination efforts in health care research and evidence
through comparative effectiveness funded by the Federal Government have
largely been focused in academic settings, rather than among physicians
and clinicians in health care delivery settings. This project
implements and evaluates methods that extend beyond the academic
setting to engage the target audiences in the health care environment
where decisions are typically made.
Most clinicians are required to complete continuing medical
education (CME) accepted by accrediting organizations recognized by
State medical boards. Over sixty boards require anywhere from 12 CME
credits to 50 CME credits per year for a clinician to retain their
State licensure. (State Medical Licensure Requirements and Statistics,
2010, http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/table16.pdf.) AHRQ
currently provides CME credits on some of its comparative effectiveness
research reviews; however, these CME credits are applicable to
physicians only and AHRQ is not conducting any follow-up surveys with
physicians on these CME activities to ascertain the impact on physician
behavior. AHRQ is expanding its continuing education to include nurses,
nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical assistants,
pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and other allied health
professionals, as well as physicians. In addition, AHRQ wants to assess
the impact continuing education has on clinician behavior, its
perceived value, and whether or not education on comparative
effectiveness research made a difference in a clinician's confidence in
applying comparative effectiveness research in practice, understanding
the application of such research, and improved ability to counsel
patients on treatment and management alternatives.
Dissemination of clinical and research findings to clinicians
varies in approach, methods and by target audience. Highly technical
and scientific publications are peer reviewed and serve to validate the
methods, calculations, analysis and conclusions of studies and
research. Typically, scientific journals have a narrowly defined
readership and information regarding clinical application of findings
is not part of the criteria for manuscript acceptance and publication.
AHRQ complies with the journal guidelines when submitting manuscripts
regarding comparative effectiveness research (CER) information for
publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine. However, it is nearly
impossible to discern whether the manuscript was read, its effect on
the reader, and the likelihood that the reader will utilize the
information.
Accredited education is widely accepted as a method for
dissemination of research findings and is provided in various ways,
including online, on site, and through audio and video presentations.
To earn credit for participation, clinicians must provide contact
information, allowing the possibility of follow-up data collections
regarding behaviors, attitudes and performance information about the
participant. AHRQ has also provided accredited education as a method to
disseminate CER findings, and with this project, has reaffirmed the
value of CME in dissemination of CER findings and expanded the
commitment to provide
[[Page 10901]]
accredited education for multiple health care disciplines.
The goal of this project is to enhance awareness of comparative
effectiveness research among clinicians and measure the value and
impact of these efforts.
This study is being conducted by AHRQ through its contractor, PRIME
Education, Inc., pursuant to AHRQ's statutory authority to conduct and
support research on healthcare and on systems for the delivery of such
care, including activities with respect to: the quality, effectiveness,
efficiency, appropriateness and value of healthcare services; quality
measurement and improvement; and clinical practice. 42 U.S.C.
299a(a)(1), (2) and (4).
Method of Collection
To achieve this project's goal, the following activities and data
collections will be implemented:
1. Provide continuing medical education (CME) or continuing
education units (CE/CEU) through the appropriate accrediting
organizations by providing 15 multimedia online continuing education
modules per year for 3 years, on specific comparative effectiveness
research reports and provide quantitative and qualitative metrics about
usage of these programs by physicians, pharmacists, nurses, nurse
practitioners, physician assistants, medical assistants, allied health
professionals, and other clinicians. This activity is designed to raise
awareness of and utility of comparative effectiveness research by
providing free and easy access to clinician guides and consumer guides
for clinicians and their patients/families to assist in making informed
decisions about heath care.
The following monthly utilization rates for the online CME/CE/CEU
activities will be collected: the number of CME/CE/CEU certificates
issued, monthly participation statistics, and the number of clinician
and consumer guides ordered. Because all of the CME/CE/CEU activities
are online, the utilization rates are automatically collected by the
contractor's computer when the health care professional registers for
the activity, participates in the online education, requests continuing
education credit for the activity, and orders clinician and consumer
guides. Therefore, this activity does not require OMB clearance.
2. CME/CE/CEU registration data is provided by the health care
professional when he or she logs on and registers for a course. The
health care professional would key in their name, e-mail address,
address (selecting either their home or business address), telephone
number, type of discipline, and their practice setting. This data is
collected to ensure that the health care professional receives CME/CE/
CEU credit for the courses that he or she takes and will be used to
implement the AI-IRQ Online Continuing Education Participant Evaluation
described below.
3. AHRQ Online Continuing Education Participant Evaluation to
evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the CME/CE/CEU modules at 60
days, 6 months and 1 year after completion of the module (see
Attachment B). The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the
clinicians' confidence level in applying comparative effectiveness
research, their understanding of the research, how valuable the
research is to the clinician and their intent to change their practice
based on this research. Evaluation questions have been developed based
upon established conceptual frameworks and principles of adult
learning.
Data collected will be used to assess the utility and effectiveness
of the educational module in increasing awareness and utility of
information provided in comparative effectiveness research. Data will
provide useful quantitative arid qualitative metrics which AHRQ can use
to measure the outcomes of the project. Moreover, these metrics will
enable AHRQ to identify new potential barriers that may thwart the
outcome--lending important information regarding future educational
needs.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the
respondents' time to participate in this research. The AHRQ Online
Continuing Education Participant Evaluation will be completed at 3
different points in time after completion of the CME/CE/CEU education
module. The CME/CE/CEU registration data is collected for an estimated
1,500 health care professionals and takes approximately 5 minutes. The
same estimated 1,500 health care professionals will complete the
evaluation 3 times each year, which takes about 3 minutes to complete.
The total annual burden is estimated to be 350 hours.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annual cost burden to respondents,
based on their time to participate in surveys for each CME/CE/CEU
module. The annual cost burden is estimated to be $16,290.
Exhibit 1--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours per Module
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Number of Hours per
Form name Number of responses per response Total burden
respondents respondent survey hours
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AHRQ Online Continuing Education CME/CE/CEU 1,500 1 5/60 125
Registration Data..............................
AHRQ Online Continuing Education Participant 1,500 3 3/60 225
Evaluation.....................................
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Total....................................... 3,000 na na 350
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Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden per Module
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Average
Form name Number of Total burden hourly wage Total cost
respondents hours rate* burden
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AHRQ Online Continuing Education CME/CE/CEU 1,500 125 $46.54 $5,818
Registration Data..............................
AHRQ Online Continuing Education Participant 1,500 225 46.54 10,472
Evaluation.....................................
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Total....................................... 3,000 350 na $16,290
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* Based upon the mean of the average hourly wages for Physicians (29-1069; $83.59), Pharmacists (291051;
$51.27), Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners (29-1071; $40.78), Registered Nurses (291111; $31.99)
and Healthcare Practitioners (29-9099; $25.05), National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages in the United
States May 2009, ``U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.''
[[Page 10902]]
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
Exhibit 3 shows the total and annualized cost for the 45 CME/CE/CEU
modules (15 per year for 3 years). The total cost is estimated to be
$3,963,150.
Exhibit 3--Estimated Total and Annualized Cost
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Cost component Total cost Annualized cost
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Development of CME/CE/CEU Module.. $2,256,300 $752,100
Module Accreditation.............. 900,000 300,000
Module Dissemination.............. 450,000 150,000
Evaluation instrument development 356,850 118,950
and dissemination, data
collection, processing and
analysis.........................
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Total......................... $3,963,150 $1,321,050
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Request for Comments
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ's
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 AHRQ healthcare research and
healthcare information dissemination functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's
estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed
collection(s) 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 Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: February 15, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-4130 Filed 2-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M