77 FR 223 pgs. 69485-69486 - Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
Type: NOTICEVolume: 77Number: 223Pages: 69485 - 69486
Docket number: [60Day-13-13BU]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2012-28079 Filed 11-16-12; 8:45 am]
Agency: Health and Human Services Department
Sub Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-13-13BU]
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 Ron Otten, 1600 Clifton Road, MS D-74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to omb@cdc.gov.
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
Determining Causes of Sudden, Unexpected Infant Death: A National Survey of U.S. Medical Examiners and Coroners-New-National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Each year in the United States, approximately 4,200 infants die suddenly without any cause that is immediately obvious. Half of these sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) are attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which is the leading cause of death in infants between one and twelve months of age. Reducing deaths caused by SIDS and other SUID such as accidental suffocation are important public health priorities.
Between 1990 and 2001, the rate of SIDS in the U.S. decreased from 1.3 per 1,000 live births to 0.56 deaths per 1,000 live births. The 50% decline in SIDS is attributed to the success of the "Back to Sleep" campaign, launched in 1994, during which prone sleeping for infants decreased from about 75% in 1992 to 12% in 2002. SIDS has continued to decline slightly and in 2009 was estimated to be 0.525 deaths per 1,000, however, post-neonatal mortality due to other causes increased, particularly in 1999-2001. Further examination of the cause-specific age at death and month of death distributions suggested that cases once reported as SIDS were subsequently being reported as accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed or as cause unknown/unspecified. Because SIDS, by definition, is nonspecific, there is substantial variation in how these deaths are reported by the medical examiner or coroner in the jurisdiction of record. Some variation in the classification of infant deaths may be due to inconsistent use of terms and definitions, and some variation may reflect limitations of investigation and documentation. Uncertainties in classification negatively impact understanding of the causes of infant mortality and the ability to develop appropriate public health responses.
CDC requests OMB approval to conduct the first national, geographically representative survey of medical examiners and coroners that concerns SUID diagnostic and reporting practices. Information will be collected to elucidate how medical examiners and coroners interpret and report SUID and the extent to which their interpretation and reporting practices vary. The proposed activity is part of CDC's mission, as described in Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241].
CDC's data collection contractor will draw a sample of medical examiners and coroners as follows. First, U.S. counties will be selected (with replacement) with probability proportional to the number of SUID-related deaths reported from 2005-2009. A sampling frame will be established for each county and the appropriate number of names will be randomly selected from the list. An interviewer will telephone approximately 800 offices to verify the name and contact information of the individual responsible for certifying infant deaths. Paper questionnaires will then be distributed to approximately 80 medical examiners and 720 coroners by mail. CDC expects to receive approximately 64 completed questionnaires from medical examiners and 576 completed questionnaires from coroners.
Questionnaires will take about 30 minutes to complete and will contain questions about each respondent's reporting jurisdiction, reporting practices and training, knowledge and opinions about topics related to sudden unexpected and unexplained infant death, demographic characteristics, and jurisdiction-specific training and resource needs. Respondents will also review hypothetical infant death case descriptions and indicate how they would classify the cause of death for those cases. The questionnaire does not request the respondent's name, and response data will be de-linked from the information used for recruitment purposes. Data analysis will be conducted using de-identified responses.
Survey findings will be used to develop educational publications and presentations aimed at improving the consistent use of standardized terms and definitions in determining the cause of unexpected infant deaths. Findings may also be applicable to the development of public health programs aimed at reducing unexpected infant deaths.
OMB approval is requested for one year. Participation is voluntary and there are no costs to respondents other than their time.
| Type of respondent | Form name | Number of respondents | Number of responses per respondent | Average burden per response (in hr) | Total burden (in hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptionist or Operator | Telephone Screener | 800 | 1 | 5/60 | 67 |
| Medical Examiner | National Survey of Medical Examiners and Coroners | 64 | 1 | 30/60 | 32 |
| Coroner | National Survey of Medical Examiners and Coroners | 576 | 1 | 30/60 | 288 |
| Total | 387 |
Dated: November 13, 2012.
Ron A. Otten,
Director, Office of Scientific Integrity (OSI), Office of the Associate Director for Science (OADS), Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-28079 Filed 11-16-12; 8:45 am]
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