2023-11858. Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

AGENCY:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice with comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled National Youth Tobacco Surveys (NYTS), which aims to collect data on tobacco use among middle- and high school students.

DATES:

CDC must receive written comments on or before August 4, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC–2023–0043 by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS H21–8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments to www.regulations.gov.

Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking portal ( www.regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS H21–8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a proposed data collection as described below.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

2. Evaluate 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. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses; and

5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) (OMB Control No. 0920–0621, Exp. 1/31/2024)—Revision—National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, and nearly all tobacco use begins during youth and young adulthood. A limited number of health risk behaviors, including tobacco use, account for most immediate and long-term sources of morbidity and mortality. Because many health risk behaviors are established during adolescence, there is a critical need for public health programs directed towards youth, and for information to support these programs.

Since 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has periodically collected information about tobacco use among adolescents (National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011–2023 (OMB Control No. 0920–0621, Exp. 01/31/2024). This surveillance activity builds on previous surveys funded by the American Legacy Foundation in 1999, 2000, and 2002.

At present, the NYTS is the most comprehensive source of nationally representative tobacco data among students in grades 9–12, moreover, the NYTS is the only source of such data for students in grades 6–8. The NYTS has provided national estimates of tobacco use behaviors, information about exposure to pro- and anti-tobacco influences, and information about racial and ethnic disparities in tobacco-related topics. Information collected through the NYTS is used to identify trends over time, to inform the development of tobacco cessation programs for youth, and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions and programs.

CDC plans to request OMB approval to conduct additional cycles of the NYTS in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The survey will be conducted among nationally representative samples of students attending public and private schools in grades 6–12. The survey will be digital, web-based, self-administered, and will be taken on school or personal computers, tablets, or mobile devices. Information supporting the NYTS also will be collected from state-, district-, and school-level administrators and teachers. During the 2024–2026 timeframe, changes will be incorporated that reflect CDC's ongoing collaboration with FDA and the need to measure progress toward meeting strategic goals established by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

The survey will examine the following topics: Use of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookahs, roll-your-own cigarettes, pipes, snus, dissolvable tobacco, bidis, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches; knowledge and attitudes; media and advertising; access to tobacco products and enforcement of restrictions on access; second-hand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol exposure; and cessation.

Results of the NYTS will continue to be used to inform and evaluate the National Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, provide data to inform the Department of Health and Human Service's Tobacco Control Strategic Action Plan, and provide national benchmark data for state-level Youth Tobacco Surveys. Information collected through the NYTS is also expected to provide multiple measures and data for monitoring progress on seven tobacco-related objectives for Healthy People 2030.

OMB approval will be requested for three years. CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 22,327 annual burden hours. There are no costs to respondents other than their time to participate.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondent	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden hours
State administrators	State-level Recruitment Script for the NYTS	42	1	30/60	21
District administrators	District-level Recruitment Script for the NYTS	308	1	30/60	154
School administrators	School-level Recruitment Script for the NYTS	285	1	30/60	143
Teachers	Data Collection Checklist	1,217	1	15/60	304
Students	National Youth Tobacco Survey	28,613	1	45/60	21,460
	Screening for Cognitive Interviews	300	1	10/60	50
	Cognitive Interviews	60	1	120/60	120
	Pilot Testing	100	1	45/60	75
Total					22,327

Jeffrey M. Zirger,

Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.