Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (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 (404) 639-7570 or send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

Generic Clearance for Lyme and other Tickborne Diseases Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Surveys—New—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD) and other programs working on tickborne diseases (TBDs) is requesting a three year approval for a generic clearance to conduct TBD prevention studies to include knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) surveys regarding ticks and tickborne diseases (TBDs) among residents and businesses offering pest control services in Lyme disease endemic areas of the United States. The data collection for which approval is sought will allow DVBD to use survey results to inform implementation of future TBD prevention interventions. A “Generic” clearance will provide the flexibility to conduct multiple surveys on the same topic (TBDs), but regarding different prevention methods, objectives, or target audiences.

TBDs are a substantial and growing public health problem in the United States. From 2009-2014, over 200,000 cases of TBDs were reported to CDC, including cases of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Lyme disease leads in number of cases with over 33,000 confirmed and probable cases reported in 2014. In addition, several novel tickborne pathogens have recently been found to cause human disease in the United States. Factors driving the emergence of TBDs are not well defined and current prevention methods have been insufficient to curb the increase in cases. Data is lacking on how often certain prevention measures are used by individuals at risk as well as what the barriers to using certain prevention measures are.

The primary target population for these data collections are individuals and their household members who are at risk for TBDs associated with I. scapularis ticks and who may be exposed to these ticks residentially, recreationally, and/or occupationally. The secondary target population includes owners and employees of businesses offering pest control services to residents in areas where I. scapularis ticks transmit diseases to humans. Specifically, these target populations include those residing or working in the 14 highest incidence states for Lyme disease (CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, WI).

We anticipate conducting one to two surveys per year, for a maximum of six surveys conducted over a three year period. Depending on the survey, we aim to enroll 500-10,000 participants per study. It is expected that we will need to target recruitment to about twice as many people as we intend to enroll. Surveys may be conducted daily, weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly per participant for a defined period of time (whether by phone or web survey), depending on the survey or study. The surveys will range in duration from approximately 5-30 minutes. Each participant may be surveyed 1-64 times in one year; this variance is due to differences in the type of information collected for a given survey. Specific burden estimates for each study and each information collection instrument will be provided with each individual project submission for OMB review. The maximum estimated, annualized burden hours are 98,830 hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

Insights gained from KAP surveys will aid in prioritizing which prevention methods should be evaluated in future randomized, controlled trials and ultimately help target promotion of proven prevention methods that could yield substantial reductions in TBD incidence.