[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62864-62865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29865]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
Availability of Draft Clinical Practice Guideline on Smoking
Cessation for Pre-Publication Review
agency: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
action: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
summary: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
announces the availability of a draft AHCPR-sponsored clinical practice
guideline on smoking cessation for pre-publication review. This
guideline is being produced by a multidisciplinary private-sector panel
of experts convened by AHCPR. The expert panel will not respond to
individual comments but will consider all comments in determining
revisions to the guideline. Individuals interested in obtaining a copy
of the draft guideline for review must agree not to disclose its
content to the public prior to its publication by AHCPR.
dates: Comments must be postmarked by January 4, 1996.
supplementary information: The Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research is responsible for the development of clinical practice
guidelines that may be used by physicians, other health care
practitioners, educators, and consumers to assist in determining how
diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can most effectively
and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and clinically
managed. The AHCPR facilitates the development of guidelines by
establishing private-sector panels who are responsible for their
content.
A private-sector panel of health care experts and consumers was
formed in May, 1994 to develop a clinical practice guideline to improve
the effectiveness of smoking cessation activities. A public meeting was
also held in November, 1994 for the panel to receive comments and
information relevant to development of the guideline. The panel has
reviewed and synthesized the literature on this topic and drafted a set
of conclusions and recommendations based on the best available
scientific data and expert judgment.
A draft of these conclusions and recommendations is now undergoing
peer review by a substantial number of individuals and groups who are
knowledgeable about smoking cessation programs and related activities.
With this notice, the panel and AHCPR are also making the draft
guideline available to any person who wishes to review and comment on
it, so long as the person agrees to honor the confidentiality of this
draft (as specified below).
After review of all comments received, the panel will revise the
draft guideline and prepare the clinical practice guideline on smoking
cessation.
Potential reviewers should note that AHCPR may disclose the names
of the guideline reviewers at the same time the guideline is published.
The AHCPR may also release the review comments after the guideline is
published. However, the comments will not be attributed to specific
reviewers.
Confidentiality Statement for Reviewers
During the review process, and until published by AHCPR, the
guideline is confidential. It may not be quoted, distributed, or copied
without the prior written consent of the panel chair.
All requests for the draft guideline must include the following
confidentiality statement signed by the requestor:
In order to protect the integrity of the panel's deliberative
process and its final product, I agree that: I will not release,
publicly present, publish, have published, or otherwise disseminate
any portion of the draft Smoking Cessation guideline.
Signature--------------------------------------------------------------
Date-------------------------------------------------------------------
Affiliation------------------------------------------------------------
Name (printed or typed)------------------------------------------------
Request for Draft Guideline
To receive a copy of the draft guideline, requests must include:
Requestor's name; Affiliation (business or organization); Address
(including zip code); Telephone and Fax numbers; Signed confidentiality
statement; and Information on reviewer's computer resources, if
applicable, (needed to
[[Page 62865]]
ascertain ability to use a computerized program for guideline review).
Written requests, together with the signed confidentiality
statement, should be mailed to: Cheryl Campbell, Panel Manager;
Technical Resources International, Inc. (TRI), 3202 Tower Oaks
Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20852-4200. (Fax number: (301) 231-
6377.) If faxing the request, the original signed confidentiality
statement must also be mailed.
Automated review process: A computerized guideline review process,
supported by AHCPR, enables comments to be entered on a specially
formatted diskette. A diskette will be furnished, with instructions, to
those requesting the draft guideline. To facilitate the review process,
it is recommended that reviewers use the computer diskette to record
their comments. Reviewers who do not use a diskette will be asked to
provide typewritten comments.
Requests for a copy of the draft guideline should include the
following information regarding the computer system to be used for
reviewing the guideline: Type of computer: IBM/compatible or Macintosh;
and if IBM/compatible: the size of disk drive (3.5'' or 5.25'').
For technical assistance or questions regarding computer resources,
call the Guideline Review Technical Support at (301) 231-5250 ext. 100
and ask for Ms. Cheryl Campbell.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Additional information on the guideline
development process is contained in the AHCPR Program Note, ``Clinical
Practice Guideline Development,'' (AHCPR Publication No. 93-0023) dated
August 1993.
This document may be obtained from the AHCPR Publications
Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 8547, Silver Spring, MD 20907; or call toll-
free: 1-800-358-9295.
Dated: December 1, 1995.
Clifton R. Gaus,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-29865 Filed 12-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M