Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Physician Survey on Cancer Susceptibility Testing

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Physician Survey on

Cancer Susceptibility Testing

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 Institutes of Health

(NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) 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: Physicians Survey on Inherited Cancer Susceptibility

Testing. Type of Information Collection Request: New. Need and Use of

Information Collection: The Physicians Survey on Inherited Cancer

Susceptibility Testing will be used by the National Cancer Institute to

establish baseline information on the prevalence of genetic testing for

cancer susceptibility among primary care physicians in the United

States. The survey will assess whether there are statistically

significant differences in (1) self-reported knowledge, current use of,

and future intentions to use genetic testing for cancer susceptibility,

and (2) perceptions of barriers to testing, among primary care

physicians by their type and location of practice, and recency of

training. Primary care physicians (internists, pediatricians, family

and general practitioners) will also be compared with specialty groups

(gastroenterologists, surgeons, urologists and oncologists) with

respect to their

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use, attitudes toward, and knowledge of, genetic testing for cancer

susceptibility. A questionnaire will be administered by mail,

telephone, facsimile and Internet, using a nationally representative

sample of physicians. The study physicians will select their preferred

response mode. Frequency of Response: One-time study. Affected Public:

Medical community. Type of Respondents: Primary care and specialty

physicians with active licenses to practice medicine in the U.S. The

annualized cost to respondents is estimated at $33,750. Burden

estimates are presented here:

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Estimated # Average burden Estimated

Questionnaire Estimated # responses/ hours per total annual

respondents respondent response burden hours

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Primary care physicians......................... 1,096 1 0.250 274

Specialty physicians............................ 254 1 0.250 64

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Total....................................... .............. .............. .............. 338

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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 Louise Wideroff

or Andrew Freedman, Epidemiologists, National Cancer Institute, EPN

313, Executive Boulevard MSC 7334, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7344,

Telephone (301) 435-6823 or (301) 435-6819, FAX (301) 435-3710, or E-

mail your request, including your address, to [email protected] or

Andrew__F[email protected].

COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are

best assured of having their full effect if received on or before March

8, 1999.

Dated: December 29, 1998.

Reesa Nichols,

OMB Project Clearance Liaison.

[FR Doc. 99-108 Filed 1-4-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140-01-M