Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on (404)498-1210.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project:

Evaluation of the Poison Help Campaign to Enhance Public Awareness of the National Poison Toll-Free Number, Poison Center Access, and Poison Prevention—New—National Center for Injury Control and Prevention (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Every day more than 6,000 calls about poison emergencies are placed to poison control centers (PCCs) throughout the United States. Although PCCs clearly save lives and reduce healthcare costs, the system that delivers care and prevents poisoning is comprised of more than 131 telephone numbers and thousands of disjointed local prevention efforts. As a result public and professional access to an essential emergency service has been hampered by a confusing array of telephone numbers and by an inability to mount a full-fledged national poison center awareness campaign.

The Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-174) was signed into legislation in February 2000 with the intent to provide assistance for poison prevention and to stabilize funding of regional PCCs. In October 1999, in response to the impending passage of this legislation, CDC and the Health Services Resource Administration (HRSA) began funding and administering a cooperative agreement with the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). The agreement called for the establishment of a National Poison Prevention and Control Program. The purpose of this program is to support an integrated system of poison prevention and control services including: Coordination of all PCCs through development, implementation, and evaluation of standardized public education; development of a plan to improve national toxicosurveillance and data systems; and support of a national public service media campaign.

The purpose of the national media campaign is to launch a national toll-free helpline entitled Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) that the general public, health professionals, and others can use to access poison emergency services and prevention information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The campaign was launched nationally in January 2002 with a special interest in targeting high-risk populations such as parents of children under age 6, older adults between 60-80 years of age, and underserved groups who are often not reached effectively through public health communication efforts.

Two telephone surveys will be conducted to assess the reach and impact of campaign activities and the overall effectiveness of the awareness campaign. The High-Risk Survey will be conducted with parents of children under age 6 and older adults ages 60-80 to assess their awareness of the national toll-free number, awareness of PCCs and the services they provide, and poison prevention knowledge. The Helpline Caller Survey will be conducted with persons who have contacted a PCC to ascertain whether callers have seen or heard Poison Help prevention messages, their awareness of the 1-800-222-1222 number and how they learned of it, and how they rate the ease of accessing poison emergency services or prevention information. There is no cost to respondents.