Justification for Change

National Health Interview Survey – Nonsubstantive Change

OMB No. 0920-0214

(Expires 12/31/2009)

November 17, 2008

Contact:

Project Officer: Howard Riddick

Division of Health Interview Statistics

National Center for Health Statistics

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Department of Health and Human Services

3311 Toledo Road

Hyattsville, MD 20782

Telephone: 301-458-4459

Email: hcr8@cdc.gov

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

A1. Circumstances making the collection of information necessary

This request is for a nonsubstantive change to an approved data collection (OMB No. 0920-0214) (expires 12/31/2009), the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Questions/modules cycle in and out of the survey on a periodic basis to collect new and/or updated information as needed.

Changes

This change seeks approval to cycle out questions on asthma; oral health; vision; heart disease; cancer screening; immunization; and dizziness, balance problems, and falls fielded in 2008; and to cycle in and update questions on carbon monoxide detectors, stroke, arthritis, health care workers, and the use of the internet to learn about health information or to communicate with health care providers for 2009. We also seek approval for revised questions in the reinterview questionnaire used to monitor survey protocols.

The new questions for the 2009 NHIS are in Attachment 1. The revised reinterview questions are in Attachment 2. There is no change to the burden.

On September 22, OMB approved changes to the NHIS to begin in October 2008 and continue through the 2009 data collection. Those changes included a 1/8 decrease in the number of participants in 2009 due to a budget reduction. This current request asks for no additional change in burden as the questions being brought into the survey for 2009 are of a similar length to those being cycled out; the burden still represents a 1/8 decrease in sample size for 2009. OMB would be notified if additional sample cuts become necessary if funding levels are reduced next year.

A2. Purpose and use of information collection

The question on carbon monoxide detectors in the home is a new question for the NHIS. The question is sponsored by National Center for Environmental Health (CDC), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH), and is part of the Healthy People 2010 Objectives. Healthy People 2010 is a set of health objectives for the Nation set by the Department of Health and Human Services and are designed to measure programs over time. The objectives are revised every decade and serve as the basis for the development of State and community plans.

The stroke questions have been on the NHIS previously. The questions are sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) and are part of the Healthy People 2010 Objectives.

The arthritis questions have been on the NHIS previously. The questions are sponsored by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH), and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC). The questions are part of the Healthy People 2010 Objectives.

Two new questions about health care workers are sponsored by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (CDC). The questions will help assess the vaccination status of health care workers or volunteers who come into direct contact with patients. Vaccination status for all adults is determined by questions already a part of the NHIS.

The health information technology questions are new questions for the NHIS and are sponsored by Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Health and Human Services. The purpose is to learn where patients and consumers acquire their health information and the demographic and health characteristics of the users. The information will be used to inform Department of Health and Human Services information technology (IT) and health communications policy.

The program also seeks approval for revised questions in the reinterview questionnaire used to monitor survey protocols. About 8 percent of families are asked to take part in the 5-minute reinterview survey. The survey is used to help verify that interviewers asked questions according to survey procedures.

The questions to be added to the 2009 NHIS and the revised reinterview questions were approved by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Research Ethics Review Board (ERB) on October 31, 2008.

A8. Consultation Outside the Agency

Jim Scanlon

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (Science and Data Policy)

Department of Health and Human Services

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS Room 442E, Humphrey Building

Phone: (202) 690-5874

Email: Jim.Scanlon@hhs.gov

Dale C. Hitchcock

Director, Division of Data Policy

Office of Science and Data Policy, Department of Health and Human Services

OASPE/Room 434E.1

Humphrey Building

Phone: 202 690-6796

Email: Dale.Hitchcock@hhs.gov

Gary L. Euler, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

Assessment Branch, Immunization Services Division

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CORP Bldg. 12, Room 2409

Atlanta, GA 30329

Tel: (404) 639-8742

Fax: (404) 639-3266

Email: GEuler@cdc.gov

Tammy A. Santibanez, Ph.D.

Assessment Branch, Immunization Services Division

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CORP Bldg. 12, Room 2421

Atlanta, GA 30329

Tel: (404) 639-8304

Fax: (404) 639-3266

Email: TSantibanez@cdc.gov

Nidhi Jain, M.D.

Assessment Branch, Immunization Services Division

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CORP Bldg. 12, Room 2418

Atlanta, GA 30329

Tel: (404) 639-1823

Fax: (404) 639-3266

Email: NJain@cdc.gov

James A. Singleton, M.S.

Chief, Assessment Branch, Immunization Services Division

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CORP Bldg. 12, Room 2419

Atlanta, GA 30329

Tel: (404) 639-8560

Fax: (404) 639-3266

Email: JSingleton@cdc.gov

Jackie H. Clower, MPH

TKCIS Contractor

Air Pollution & Respiratory Health Branch

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Phone: 770.488.0799

Email: flj2@cdc.gov

Melinda Kelley, Ph.D.

Senior Science Advisor

Office of Science Policy and Planning

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Phone (301) 435-7572

Fax (301) 480-9172

Email: KelleyM@ninds.nih.gov

A12. Estimates of annualized burden hours and costs

Table 1 below outlines the average annual burden estimate for the 2009 National Health Interview Survey. The estimated response burden of 28,017 hours is equal to the burden level currently approved. This estimate is based on an anticipated reduction of one-eighth of the sample design due to budgetary constraints. The burden table below reflects the estimates for the number of respondents, lengths of interviews, and total burden.

The questions that are being changed are part of the Sample Adult topical modules, (line 4 below) and the Reinterview (line 7).

Table 1. Average Annualized Burden Hours:

Questionnaire (respondent)	Number of respondents	Number of Responses per Respondent	Average burden per response in hours	Total burden In hours
Screener Questionnaire	15,000	1	5/60	1,250
Family Core (adult family member)	30,000	1	23/60	11,500
Adult Core (sample adult)	23,400	1	17/60	6,630
Adult Topical Modules (sample adult)	23,400	1	15/60	5,850
Child Core (adult family member)	9,400	1	9/60	1,410
Child Topical Module (adult family member)	9,400	1	4/60	627
Reinterview Survey)	3,000	1	5/60	250
Child Record Check(medical provider)	1,200	1	5/60	100
Teen Record Check(medical provider)	4,800	1	5/60	400
Total Burden Hours				28,017

Attachments

Attachment 1. Adult Topical Modules--2009 New Questions

Attachment 2. NHIS Reinterview Questions

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