[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 16168-16169] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-8595] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health Pretesting of Office of Cancer Communications Messages; Proposed Collection; Comment Request Summary: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Proposed Collection Title: Pretesting of Office of Cancer Communications Messages. Type of Information Collection Request: EXTENSION (OMB # 0925-0046, expires 8/31/97). Need and Use of Information Collection: In order to carry out NCI's legislative mandate to educate and disseminate information about cancer prevention, detection diagnosis, and treatment to a wide variety of audiences and organizations (e.g. cancer patients, their families, the general public, health providers, the media, voluntary groups, scientific and medical organizations), the Office of Cancer Communications (OCC) needs to pretest its communications strategies, concepts, and messages while they are under development. The primary purpose of this pretesting, or formative evaluation, is to ensure that the messages, communications materials, and information services created by OCC have the greatest capacity of being received, understood, and accepted by their target audiences. By utilizing appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies, OCC is able to (1) Understand characteristics of the intended target audience--their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors--and use this information in the development of effective communications tools; (2) produce or refine messages that have the greatest potential to influence target audience attitudes and behavior in a positive manner; and (3) expend limited program resources dollars wisely and effectively. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Affected public: Individuals or households; Businesses or other for [[Page 16169]] profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government. Type of Respondents: Adult cancer patients; members of the public; health care professionals; organizational representatives. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,780; Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per Response; 1458; and Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 2,010. There are no Capital Costs, Operating Costs and/or Maintenance Costs to report. Request for Comments Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or their forms of information technology. For Further Information Contact: To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact Ellen Eisner, Communications Research Manager, Health Promotion Branch, OCC, NCI, NIH, Building 31, Room 10A03, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 496-6667 or E-mail your request, including your address to [email protected]. Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received by June 3, 1997. Dated: March 27, 1997. Nancie L. Bliss, Project Clearance Liaison, NCI. [FR Doc. 97-8595 Filed 4-3-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140-01-M