Focus Group Plan -- National Immunization Survey Pilot Test

The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). The objective is to conduct focus groups to guide the development of materials for a National Immunization Survey pilot test to begin June, 2009. As part of the pilot test, health care providers will receive Special Sworn Status to assist in providing immunization records for children aged 19-35 months in sample households. The focus groups will solicit input on and suggestions for improving the materials included in the mailing that requests heath care providers to complete the Special Sworn Status form.

In April and May, 2009, staff from the Center for Survey Methods Research will conduct focus groups with the office staff from public clinics and private pediatricians offices that administer immunizations to children.

Focus group participants will be recruited from lists of health care providers in the Baltimore, MD area and the Miami, FL area who have completed forms for the National Immunization Survey in the past. A letter from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will describe the project and ask for assistance. The letter will be addressed to the office or clinic, and most likely will be opened by someone in the front office. When they call to volunteer, the recruiter will set up appointments for the group of office staff and also attempt to contact the physician.

We are hoping to conduct four focus groups: one with staff and one with physicians from private pediatricians’ offices, and one with staff and one with physicians from public health clinics. Six to eight participants will be recruited for each focus group. We plan to pay $75 per respondent for the focus groups with office staff and $150 per respondent for the focus groups with physicians. However, we would like to request some flexibility in this. There is a possibility that interactions within the office may cause hard feelings due to the double standard of payment. We may wind up having to conduct focus groups with both office staff and physicians, in which case we request permission to pay $150 for each participant.

The moderator’s guide for the focus groups is enclosed. In addition, all the materials that the focus group participants will see are enclosed. These include the cover letter for the mailing package, the Special Sworn Status form, the Immunization History Questionnaire, an insert describing Special Sworn Status, and a document containing Frequently Asked Questions about HIPAA and the National Immunization Survey.

We expect each focus group to take 2 hours. Thus, the total burden for this activity is 64 hours (8 participants X 2 hours X 4 focus groups).

The contact person for questions regarding data collection and study design is:

Terry DeMaio

Center for Survey Methods Research

Statistical Research Division

U.S. Census Bureau

4600 Silver Hill Road

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-4894

theresa.j.demaio@census.gov