Overview
Title
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The CDC wants people to share their thoughts on a plan to ask questions about health during COVID-19 to understand how the virus is affecting people. They hope to learn things like how often people use doctor video calls and how they feel, but some things about the plan still need to be explained better, like how they pick who gets to answer the questions.
Summary AI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is inviting public comments on a proposed data collection project called the National Center for Health Statistics' Research and Development Survey (RANDS) during COVID-19—Round 3. This survey aims to gather data on health characteristics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as telehealth access, general health, and psychological distress. The survey will provide early estimates of how the pandemic affects health, which will aid in CDC's ongoing COVID-19 surveillance. Comments on the proposed collection are being accepted as part of the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled National Center for Health Statistics' Research and Development Survey (RANDS) during COVID-19-- Round 3. The Research and Development Survey (RANDS) is designed to quickly obtain and disseminate information about selected population health characteristics during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and to provide documentation supporting the validity of pandemic-related survey questions, including questions, such as those on telehealth access and use, that will continue to be important for public health after the pandemic.
Keywords AI
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AnalysisAI
The document is a notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), inviting public comments on a proposed information collection project known as the National Center for Health Statistics' Research and Development Survey (RANDS) during COVID-19—Round 3. This survey aims to gather data regarding health characteristics impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These include telehealth access, general health, and the psychological effects of the pandemic. The survey is expected to support CDC's ongoing efforts to surveil and manage the pandemic by providing early estimates of its effects.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several areas of concern noted in this document. One prominent issue is the lack of a detailed budget breakdown. This absence makes it challenging to determine whether the estimated 1,734 burden hours, which is the time expected for respondents to complete the survey, might lead to unnecessary spending.
The document refers to "early estimates of COVID-19-related concepts," yet does not specify what these estimates will target or how they will be utilized. Such vagueness can lead to confusion about the survey’s objectives and implementation.
Another potential issue is that the survey’s scope is described in broad terms like "areas such as," which leaves its precise reach ambiguous. More clarity regarding the specific topics and questions would aid transparency and understanding.
Furthermore, the use of "developmental survey methods" is neither elaborated nor clarified, which might leave readers, especially those not familiar with survey methodologies, uncertain about the nature and objectives of such methods.
The reliance on NORC's AmeriSpeak Panel raises questions without explaining the panel selection process. Without transparency, there could be concerns about bias or preferential treatment, influencing the survey's outcomes.
Lastly, while the document mentions technological solutions for minimizing respondent burden, specific strategies or examples are not provided. This shortcoming makes it hard to assess the feasibility or effectiveness of the proposed methods for information collection.
Impact on the Public
The document invites public input, which aligns with democratic values of transparency and accountability. If the survey effectively gathers useful data, it might benefit public health policy by providing insights into the pandemic's broader effects on health behaviors. However, without detailed information on the content and purpose of "early estimates," the utility of the survey could be limited.
Impact on Stakeholders
The CDC and other federal health authorities stand to benefit from the data collected through the survey, which can aid public health interventions and policy development. Survey respondents, on the other hand, may view participating as either a civic duty or an additional burden. The lack of detailed information about the survey's methodology and objectives might cause skepticism or resistance among potential respondents.
In sum, while the project has the potential to positively influence public health policy, the document's ambiguity and lack of clarity in some areas may hinder its successful implementation. Hence, the CDC might consider providing more detailed information to address public concerns and increase transparency and trust.
Issues
• The document does not provide a detailed budget breakdown, making it difficult to assess if the estimated 1,734 burden hours result in wasteful spending or if they are justified.
• The use of 'early estimates of COVID-19-related concepts' may be too vague, and it is unclear how these estimates will be applied or what specific areas they will cover.
• The description of the questionnaire as covering 'areas such as' may benefit from more specifics, as it leaves the scope of the survey open-ended and potentially ambiguous.
• The term 'developmental survey methods' could be interpreted in various ways and may require further clarification for a non-specialist audience.
• There is no mention of a transparent process or criteria for selecting NORC's AmeriSpeak Panel, which could raise questions about preferential treatment or bias.
• While technological means for minimizing the burden of information collection are mentioned, there is no specific strategy or example, which could make it difficult to evaluate the practicality of these methods.