2020-22488. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled Message Testing for Tobacco Communication Activities (MTTCA) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on February 25, 2020 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received two comments related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(a) 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;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) 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 submission of responses; and

(e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call [phone]. Comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone]. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Message Testing for Tobacco Communication Activities (MTTCA) (OMB Control No. 0920-0910, Exp. 05/31/2021)—Revision—National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Since 2012, OMB approval of a generic clearance of Message Testing for Tobacco Communication Activities (MTTCA) (OMB Control No. 0920-0910), has been continuously maintained. CDC's authority to collect information for public health purposes is provided by the Public Health Service Act (41 U.S.C. 241) Section 301.

CDC has employed the MTTCA clearance to collect information about adult smokers' and nonsmokers' attitudes and perceptions, and to pretest draft messages and materials for clarity, salience, appeal, and persuasiveness. The MTTCA clearance has been used to obtain OMB approval for a variety of message testing activities, with particular emphasis on communications supporting CDC's National Tobacco Education Campaign (NTEC) called the Tips from Former Smokers® campaign. This national campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the health consequences of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. The MTTCA clearance has also supported formative research relating to the development of health messages that are not specifically associated with the national campaign.

Information collection modes under the MTTCA clearance that are supported include in-depth interviews; in-person focus groups; online focus groups; in-person, or telephone interviews; and online surveys. Each project approved under the MTTCA framework is outlined in a project-specific Information Collection Request that describes its purpose and methodology. Messages developed from MTTCA data collection have been disseminated via multiple media channels including television, radio, print, out-of-home, and digital formats.

CDC requests OMB approval to extend the MTTCA clearance, with changes, for three years. Requested changes are to increase the number of respondents and burden hours, and to expand testing of messages on non-combustible products to include heated tobacco products. These changes are needed to support CDC's planned information collections and to accommodate additional needs that CDC may identify during the next three years. There are no changes other than adjustments to projected usage of this generic, specifically to expand message testing for additional products such as heated, non-combustible tobacco products. The MTTCA generic clearance may be used to facilitate the development of tobacco-related health communications of interest for CDC's collaborative efforts with other federal partners including, but not limited to, the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products. The MTTCA clearance does not replace the need for additional generic clearance mechanisms of HHS and other federal partners that may need to test tobacco messages related to their campaigns and initiatives.

CDC is requesting increases to accommodate planned message testing needs for the NTEC as well as ad hoc testing activities that may involve other CDC/ATSDR programs. CDC will continue to use the MTTCA clearance to develop and test messages and materials using data collection methodologies including online surveys, in-person or online focus groups, and in-depth interviews. Electronic data collection methods will be employed where possible to minimize COVID-19 exposure risk. Any in-person data collection will be conducted consistent with current guidance for mitigating the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Participation is voluntary and there are no costs to respondents, other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 10,458.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)
General Public and Special Populations	Screening In-Depth Interviews (In Person)	36,267 67	1 1	2/60 1
	Focus Groups (In Person)	288	1	1.5
	Surveys (Online, Short)	36,667	1	10/60
	Surveys (Online, Medium)	2,733	1	25/60
	Surveys (In-Depth Telephone and Online)	1,500	1	1

Jeffrey M. Zirger,

Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.