[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35405-35406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14390]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-12MX]
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 404-639-7570 or
send comments to Kimberly S. Lane, at 1600 Clifton Road, MS D74,
Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to [email protected].
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 or other
forms of information technology. Written comments should be received
within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Research to Inform the Prevention of Asthma in Healthcare--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Healthcare is the largest industry in the United States and
performs a vital function in society. Evidence from both surveillance
and epidemiologic research indicates that healthcare workers have an
elevated risk for work-related asthma (WRA) associated with exposure to
groups of agents such as cleaning products, latex, indoor air
pollution, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols. Recent
epidemiologic studies of WRA among healthcare workers have utilized job
exposure matrices (JEMs) based on probability of exposure, however,
specific exposures/etiologic agents are not well characterized and
quantitative exposure measurements are lacking. In this project, NIOSH
will augment the existing JEM with quantitative exposure data, which
will significantly enhance the existing JEMs and develop a survey
questionnaire for asthma in healthcare.
Since asthma continues to be a problem among healthcare workers,
the overall goal of this project is to prevent work-related asthma
among healthcare workers. The primary objective is to identify
modifiable occupational risk factors for asthma in healthcare that will
inform strategies for prevention. Specific Aims that support the
Primary Objective are:
Aim 1. Measure frequency of asthma onset, related symptoms, and
exacerbation of asthma in selected healthcare occupations.
Aim 2. Assess associations between asthma outcomes and exposures to
identify modifiable risk factors.
In order to accomplish the goal and aims of this project, NIOSH has
developed a survey designed to collect information about work history,
workplace exposures and asthma health from workers in the healthcare
industry. Aim 1 of this project will be completed using data
exclusively from this survey. While aim 2 will be completed using
asthma outcome data from the survey and exposure data from the JEM
developed from survey data and exposure data from previously
environmental sampling at healthcare facilities.
Approximately 17,500 health care workers in the New York City area
will be recruited for this study. NIOSH is partnering with the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199 in New York City. The
SEIU1199 Communications Center (CC) will be responsible for collecting
survey data from union members by telephone interview. The goal is to
conduct a cross-sectional epidemiologic survey of approximately 5,000
healthcare workers who are members of SEIU1199. Only health care
workers whose job titles are in one of nine job titles will be
recruited. These nine job titles include: certified nursing assistants
(CNAs), central supply, environmental services, licensed practical
nurses (LPNs), lab techs, operating room (OR) techs, registered nurses
(RNs), respiratory therapists, and dental assistants. Furthermore,
recruitment of health care workers will only be from hospitals and
nursing homes.
Completion of the survey by SEIU1199 members will be done either
online or over the telephone. After the initial recruitment period,
SEIU1199 members will have approximately two weeks to complete the
online survey. After this two week period, the SEIU1199 Communication
Center will begin calling members who have not completed the online
survey and attempt to complete the survey with them by telephone
interview. NIOSH anticipates 20% of the responses to be made using the
online survey and the remaining 80% to be by telephone interview.
Summary results of this study will be made available to SEIU1199
members who completed the survey through a letter mailed to their
homes. Although NIOSH has partnered with SEIU119, results of this study
will also be disseminated to other industry stakeholders including
healthcare workers, researchers, clinicians, and professional societies
and government agencies. The desired outcome of the dissemination
efforts include healthcare workers learning about hazards in their work
environment and becoming more prepared to participate in the
development of strategies to minimize risk. Also, clinicians will learn
how occupational exposures can impact the respiratory health of their
patients who work in healthcare, which should improve the care they
provide. In addition, manuscripts of results and conclusions will be
drafted and published in peer reviewed journals.
The target sample size for this study is 5,000. Based on the
SEIU1199 membership data, the percentage of eligible union members that
fall into the targeted nine job categories is known. Therefore, a
participant job-category distribution estimate can be made.
Completion of either the online or telephone survey will take
approximately 30 minutes. It is estimated that the annualized burden
will be 2,500 hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their
time.
[[Page 35406]]
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No. of Avg. burden
Type of respondents Form name No. of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hrs) (in hrs)
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Certified Nursing Assistants.... Online 297 1 30/60 149
Telephone 1,188 1 30/60 594
Central Supply Workers.......... Online 8 1 30/60 4
Telephone 34 1 30/60 17
Dental Assistants............... Online 18 1 30/60 9
Telephone 71 1 30/60 36
Environmental Service Workers... Online 228 1 30/60 114
Telephone 914 1 30/60 457
Licensed Practical Nurses....... Online 140 1 30/60 70
Telephone 559 1 30/60 280
Lab Technicians................. Online 77 1 30/60 39
Telephone 310 1 30/60 155
Operating Room Technicians...... Online 27 1 30/60 14
Telephone 109 1 30/60 55
Registered Nurses............... Online 168 1 30/60 84
Telephone 672 1 30/60 336
Respiratory Therapists.......... Online 36 1 30/60 18
Telephone 144 1 30/60 72
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 2,500
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Kimberly S. Lane,
Deputy Director, Office of Science Integrity, Office of the Associate
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-14390 Filed 6-12-12; 8:45 am]
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