03-8059. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Pretesting of NCI Office of Communications Messages

SUMMARY:

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 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 NCI Office of Communications Messages.

Type of Information Collection Request: EXTENSION (OMB# 0925-0046, expires 8/31/03).

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 NCI Office of Communications (OC) 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, communication materials, and information services created by OC have the greatest capacity of being received, understood, and accepted by their target audiences. By utilizing appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies, OC 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 communication tools and strategies; (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 resource dollars wisely and effectively.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other for 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 Cost, 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 other 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, Consumer Research Manager, OC Director's Office, NCI, NIH, Building 31, Room 10A03, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number [phone] or e-mail your request, including your address to: [e-mail].

Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this publication.

Dated: March 24, 2003.

Reesa Nichols,

Project Clearance Liaison, NCI.