Attachment 5a

Form Appoved

OMB NO.

Expiration Date:

Attachment 5a

Provider Recruitment Materials

<<Provider Recruitment Letter>>

Dear <<Provider Name>>:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its contractor, Abt Associates, invite you to participate in the Registry of Unexplained Fatiguing Illnesses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Bibb County.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that does not improve with rest, muscle/joint pain, problems with memory or concentration, all of which may be temporarily worsened by physical or mental activity. Currently, there is no medical marker for CFS; diagnosis of CFS is made by excluding other illnesses and diseases that may account for the fatigue. While there is no cure for CFS, treatments are being developed and tested.

This is a one-year pilot study to determine if a registry is feasible. One of the goals of this study is to identify well-characterized subjects with CFS for future intervention studies. By having health care providers refer patients who have had unexplained fatiguing illness for one month or longer, CDC expects to identify some patients with recent onset of CFS (within one year of initial symptoms). Eligible patients also include those with longer duration of unexplained fatigue.

We need your help to identify patients who might be eligible for the registry.

Participating providers will be asked to:

• Complete a short questionnaire about CFS at the start of the study and a second questionnaire near the end of the study. [No preparation is required for either questionnaire.]

• Conduct preliminary screening of patients to assess unexplained fatigue

• Refer potentially eligible patients (or clients) to the registry during a one-year period, starting June, 2007.

Providers will be offered:

• CME credit

• CFS educational materials

• Free consults with CDC physicians regarding participating patients

• Periodic updates on study participation.

Referred registry candidates who consent to be contacted will be screened by telephone by Abt Associates. Eligible subjects will then be invited to a research clinic in Macon for a one-day clinical evaluation. This evaluation will include a physical examination; a mental health assessment; and blood, urine, and saliva laboratory tests – all at no cost to participants. In fact, CDC will reimburse participants for their effort and time.

CDC will evaluate the clinical data, and Abt Associates will send test results to participants. Those with unexplained fatigue or CFS who meet enrollment criteria will be enrolled into the registry. If successful, the registry will be extended to include annual follow-up with registry enrollees.

Currently, the registry is only open to patients who are referred by certain health care providers in Bibb County. You have been identified as a provider who may be eligible to participate. Please take a moment to review the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and review the attached Provider Verification Form, which contains at least one address for you that may or may not be an office address. Please answer the questions, update the pre-printed contact information, and return the form in the prepaid business return envelope.

Participation in this study is voluntary and confidential for you and your patients. While health care practices and addresses are considered public information, Abt Associates will assign you a unique identification number so that any information you provide will be kept confidential.

Abt Associates will safeguard your patients’ confidentiality as well. Each patient will also be assigned a unique identification number to protect his or her identity. Any identifying provider or patient information will be stripped from every data file and report prior to delivery to CDC. CDC will not receive your name, address or telephone numbers or that of your patients.

If you choose to participate, you will be helping CDC advance research on CFS and unexplained fatiguing illnesses. We hope you will participate in this important study.

Sincerely,

P.S. Yes, we included the two-dollar bill to get your attention. Please keep it. We look forward to hearing from you.