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. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice 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

HIV Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices of Providers in the Southeast (K-BAP Study)—New—National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Persons at high risk of HIV infection have often had one or more contacts with a health care provider within a year of their diagnoses. These health care encounters represent missed opportunities to: (1) Review and discuss sexual health and risk reduction, (2) screen for HIV infection and other STDs, (3) recognize and diagnose acute HIV infection and offer immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) if indicated, (4) discuss the prevention benefit of treatment (with subsequent referral or prescription) and re-engagement in care, as appropriate, and (5) provide PrEP and nPEP if not infected and at high risk, consistent with current HIV prevention guidelines and recommendations.

Health care providers in high-prevalence geographic areas could substantially reduce new HIV infections among the patient populations they serve, as well as their communities. Health care providers are a trusted source of reliable information. They also have the capacity to perform STD/HIV testing and to prescribe medication with appropriate clinical follow-up. Review of the literature published between January 2000 and June 2014 indicates we know little about providers' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices (K-BAP) in at-risk jurisdictions about HIV risk, HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral drug interventions in these domains, especially primary care providers serving high-risk patients in high-prevalence communities. K-BAP Study is an effort to assess providers' K-BAP using a cross sectional survey in the five priority HIV prevention domains noted above.

This K-BAP Study aligns with multiple goals and objectives of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and CDC's “winnable battles.”

The project's specific objectives are to (1) Characterize knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices of providers in five key HIV prevention domains in high-HIV prevalence communities with disproportionate numbers of blacks/African Americans, and (2) Educate providers about prevention interventions related to these domains based on survey-identified knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices of providers' deficits.

The respondent population of medical providers will be pulled from the Healthcare Data Solutions (HDS) ProviderPRO and MidLevelPRO databases. Respondents will be recruited to participate in the survey through a combination of emails and phone calls. This strategy will consist of four emails spaced one week apart followed by phone calls to non-responders. The emails will explain the purpose of the survey, the availability of continuing education (CE) credits, and the $20 cash token of appreciation.

A large two-part internet-based survey will be conducted among a representative random sample of providers in the selected six (6) metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with the highest HIV burden among the African American population. Part one of the survey will be administered to participants at the beginning of the project. The part-one survey findings will be used to identify providers' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices that might require additional educational reinforcement. Based on survey responses, providers will be linked to continuing education (CE) credit-eligible educational modules to improve their educational deficits. The educational modules are all web-based using either video or case-based methods of learning. The length of the course ranges from 1-3 hours accounting for 0.25-1.0 credit hours. Part two of the survey will be administered six months later comprised of only the core questions in part one of the survey to assess impact of CE modules on providers' practices regarding HIV prevention and treatment.

There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total annual burden hours are 1,219.