Justification Memo Sub-Study #16

Date: February 4, 2021

To: Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Through: Seleda Perryman, DHHS Report Clearance Officer

Marilyn Tuttleman, NIH Project Clearance Officer, OPERA

Vivian Horovitch-Kelley, NCI OMB Project Clearance Liaison Office

From: Nina Goodman, Project Officer

Office of Communications and Education (OCE)

National Cancer Institute/NIH

Subject: Generic Sub-Study, “An Assessment of Rural and Uninsured Consumer Perspectives on Cancer and Related Communications: A Focus Group Study” (OMB No. 0925-0046-16)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) proposes conducting a series of focus groups to help understand public perceptions, awareness, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. The NCI Office of Market Research and Evaluation has recently conducted a review of cancer-related communications research on what is known about six primary audiences served by the NCI: patients, caregivers, and family members; cancer healthcare professionals; non-cancer healthcare professionals; researchers; general public and healthy people; and medically underserved audiences. As part of this review NCI has explored what is known about the key characteristics of each audience around cancer-related issues; which communication channels are currently relied on to reach each audience; how effectively each audience is being reached; and identifying research gaps and future research needs to better understand each audience’s information needs and preferences. Gaps in the understanding of several medically underserved communities were identified: the working uninsured, rural populations, and African Americans.

The study described below seeks to address the information gaps within these audiences and help NCI identify opportunities for improving existing NCI information materials and education resources and services, including how to tailor and better disseminate existing communications materials, to medically underserved audiences. Addressing the cancer-related information needs of these medically underserved populations is consistent with the cancer priorities outlined in the Obama-Biden Plan to Combat Cancer¹.

Background on Project

The NCI Office of Communications and Education believes in the importance of understanding its primary audiences and using this knowledge, as well as audience segmentation strategies, to effectively reach and meet the cancer-related information needs of NCI’s audiences. A review of communications research conducted by NCI identified gaps in the understanding of several medically underserved populations: the working uninsured, rural populations, and African Americans. Research scans were conducted to assess the widely available cancer-related bodies of literature as they related to these audiences. These research scans revealed that there are substantial gaps in this literature on working uninsured and rural populations within the United States.

The Working Uninsured. According to the U.S. Census, 2007 Current Population Survey, this population is quite large – approximately 15 million uninsured adults (age 18 to 64) in the U.S. work full-time and an additional 4 million work part-time. With the current economic downturn, this population is likely to have grown in number. Working uninsured adults have limited access to and low utilization of preventive health care services compared to adults with health insurance, demonstrated by differences in cancer screening rates. The research suggests that uninsured adults are more likely to be diagnosed with later stage disease and have higher cancer mortality rates, largely because of their inability to afford routine and preventive care. In addition to the problem of cost, the literature suggested that uninsured adults may experience other barriers to accessing cancer screening, treatment, and related information (e.g., limited literacy levels). Despite rising concerns about the health status of the uninsured, the research scan revealed a dearth of literature on the health information needs and communications preferences and behaviors of this audience, particularly as they related to cancer.

Rural Populations. About 17% of the U.S. population (50 million people) lives in rural regions. Lack of health insurance coverage is also common in rural areas, which are home to 8.5 million uninsured Americans². The literature highlighted that rural adults often need to travel considerable distances to access health care services and make treatment decisions based on their proximity to care. Rural adults are less likely than their non-rural counterparts to be screened and receive timely treatment for a variety of cancers, which is in part due to reduced access to services in their locality. Other barriers to screening and treatment that may be associated with the rural setting include religious beliefs and fatalism. The Internet and other new technologies offer an opportunity for reaching the rural audience, but limited access to these technologies among rural Americans may be an issue. While there is some literature on the cancer-related information needs of rural adults, much is unknown about their health information seeking behaviors and preferences for communications channels, particularly as they relate to cancer.

African Americans. Literature searches conducted to identify related literature on the working uninsured and rural adults in the U.S. revealed differences within these populations based on race/ethnicity and other sociodemographic indicators. African Americans, in particular, suffer higher mortality rates due to decreased access to health information and cancer services. African Americans are also less likely to receive recommended screening and are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer in later disease stages. Furthermore, African Americans are less likely to have Internet access at home or use it to find health information. Fear, limited disease knowledge, and low awareness of screening tests were identified as barriers to accessing preventive health services for working uninsured and rural populations, including African Americans. Unique barriers to receiving cancer screening tests (e.g., fear of injury from medical equipment and an association of cancer with sexual behavior) were also mentioned by African American segments. While a substantial amount of cancer and communications research has been conducted with African American audiences generally, little is known about working uninsured and rural African Americans’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors related to cancer or their personal experiences in dealing with cancer, either for themselves or a close friend or relative.

The research objectives and design of the proposed focus group study have been informed by these findings from the current literature on communications and cancer and seek to address the gaps in understanding of these medically underserved audiences.

Background Information on Focus Groups

Focus groups, or group interviews, are used to obtain insights into target audience perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes in the early stages of the communication process (i.e., in concept, strategy and materials development).³ Focus groups are usually composed of 8 - 9 people who have characteristics similar to the target audience or subgroups of the target audience. The groups are conducted by a professional moderator who keeps the session on track while allowing respondents to talk openly and spontaneously. The moderator uses a loosely structured discussion outline, which allows him/her to change direction as the discussion unfolds and new topics emerge. Focus groups are valuable in exploring consumer reactions to message concepts before additional resources are put into their development, as well as in exploring preferred communication channels and intermediaries.

Proposed Research for Focus Groups to Assess Rural and Uninsured Consumers' Perspectives on Cancer and Related Communications

Through its contractor, the Academy for Educational Development (AED), NCI proposes using focus groups to conduct qualitative research with rural adults and working but uninsured adults. NCI proposes convening 24 consumer focus groups using standard focus group methodologies to elicit formative information and gain an understanding of their perceptions, awareness, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The focus groups will also assess respondents’ access to cancer-related information and their preferences for health communication materials and channels. How participants’ perceptions and preferences are influenced by their insurance status and geographic location will also be explored. In order to determine how to improve, tailor, and better disseminate current and future NCI materials to these medically underserved audiences, participant feedback on several existing NCI information materials, educational resources and services will be solicited during the focus group discussions. Because of the emphasis on cancer-related topics, separate focus groups will be conducted with participants who have had personal experience with cancer and those who have not.

The proposed focus groups will address the following key research topics with study respondents:

• Impact of insurance status on access to cancer information and resources

• Impact of insurance status on access/utilization of healthcare services

• Impact of geographic (rural) location on access to cancer information and resources

• Impact of geographic (rural) location on access/utilization of health care services

• Overall perceptions of cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment

• Attitudes towards cancer prevention, screening, and diagnosis

• Perceived barriers and facilitators to receiving cancer screening tests

• Behaviors related to cancer prevention and screening

• Awareness of cancer clinical trials

• Perceived need for information on cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment

• Cancer health information seeking behaviors

• Preferences and utilization of communications channels for cancer information

• Preferences for intermediaries for health and cancer information

• Perceived credibility of NCI as a source of cancer information

• Awareness of and perceptions about existing NCI information materials, educational resources and services

• Reactions to existing NCI information materials

• Suggestions for improving development and dissemination of NCI informational materials, educational resources and services.

Based on the previously described background findings, two primary audiences (rural and uninsured adults) will be investigated in a single qualitative study. Because differences are expected among those who have experienced cancer personally (either themselves or a close friend or family member) and those who have not been affected by cancer, the study will stratify the rural and uninsured groups on this dimension. The following table presents the number and distribution of focus groups according to the 2 (rural status) x 3 (employment/insurance status) x 2 (personal experience with cancer) design of the proposed research project. The focus groups will take place in three to four U.S. locations, with six to eight groups convened in each location.

	Rural				Not Rural
	Working – Insured	Working –Uninsured	Not Working – Uninsured		Working – Insured	Working –Uninsured	Not Working – Uninsured
Personal experience with cancer	[A] 2	[B] 2	[C] 2	[G] 2		[H] 2	[I] 2
No personal experience with cancer	[D] 2	[E] 2	[F] 2	[J] 2		[K] 2	[L] 2

In order to make comparisons between audiences and to ensure a required degree of commonality among group participants, focus groups participants will be screened and segmented on three dimensions:

1. Rural status (rural / non-rural)

   • Resident in a zip code classified as rural (Rural-Urban Commuting Areas, classification 10) or resident in a zip code not classified as rural (Rural-Urban Commuting Areas, 1-9)⁴.

2. Employment and insurance status (working insured / working uninsured / not working uninsured)

   • The presence / absence of health insurance coverage of any kind over the past 6 months.

   • Employed and working at least 20 hours per week / unemployed and looking for work.

3. Personal experience with cancer (personal experience / no personal experience)

• The incidence or absence of lifetime history of cancer diagnosis/treatment of self, immediate family member, or close friend.

Because national data show that the cancer mortality rates among African Americans are substantially higher than rates among other racial groups⁵, as well as the relative lack of previous OCE formative communications research with this audience, half of the focus groups will be exclusively with participants who identify as African American. Within each cell in the above table, one group will consist of African American respondents and one group will include participants representing other ethnic/racial groups. For the latter twelve groups, potential participants may identify as one or more races (including White/Caucasian, Native American/American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander) and ethnically as Hispanic/Latino or not.

This study will focus on a low to moderate income population, recruiting respondents who have an annual household income of $50,000 or less, approximately the national median household income⁶. Because of the subject matter and current cancer screening recommendations, participants in these consumer focus groups will be restricted to consumers between the ages of 40 and 64. Potential participants will include both men and women. All groups will be recruited to attempt to include a mix of sexes, education levels, and job types; and in insured groups, a mix of respondents with private employer-based, and other forms of health insurance coverage (including public).

All data will be collected by AED, and all personal identifiers will be excluded from the data records. Any necessary identifying or potentially identifying information (e.g., signed consent agreements) will be secured and kept separate from the data records. All information provided by respondents will be maintained in a confidential manner, unless compelled by law. The focus group data files that are delivered to NCI will be analyzed in the aggregate and no identifiable individual respondents will be provided. NCI and AED’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) Research Integrity Officers will review the research instruments and ensure that all necessary human subject protection procedures are in place.

Participants for the consumer focus groups will be recruited using standard focus group recruitment methods; by calling their households and administering a brief screening questionnaire to pre-qualify them. Most participants will be drawn from an existing database (or list) of potential participants which is maintained by each focus group facility. Others will come from referrals (from health clinics, unemployment offices, adult learning centers, and other community resources), and some may be solicited through advertisements or fliers in local media or online to let potential participants know about the opportunity to participate in the focus groups.

Recruiters will use a screening questionnaire (“screener”) to identify eligible respondents. The screener has been carefully thought out so that the questioning process is short, easy to-understand, friendly, and efficient. In addition, the moderator’s guide for the focus groups has been developed specifically to ensure that the questions are easy to understand and answer, well-organized, and flow well. The moderators will be instructed to restrict focus group discussions to 2 hours to limit respondent burden with respect to their time. Participation will be strictly voluntary and respondents will be asked to participate in a focus group only once. Respondents’ comments will not have any effect on their eligibility for, or receipt of, medical services.

Analysis of the focus group data will employ a notes-based approach that relies primarily on observation notes, debriefing session notes, and summary comments made after the conclusion of each focus group. The focus groups will be audio taped, but the recording will be used primarily to verify specific quotes. Names and images will not be recorded, nor will personal identifying data be maintained. The primary analysis documents are the detailed observation notes. If more rigorous analysis is later needed, the tapes are available for transcription. Analysis will include the identification of key findings and overarching themes which will be presented in a report to NCI.

Research on participation in focus groups indicates that, without providing minimal levels of monetary compensation, insufficient numbers of participants will attend the group and results will not be useful. Notably, participants for some of the proposed focus groups may be harder to recruit (i.e., hard to reach populations and those living in less densely populated areas). Focus group facilities indicate that without a sufficient incentive, recruiting fees are higher because the refusal rate is higher. Recommendations for incentive amounts have been collected from eight focus group facilities located in the states/areas where these focus groups will potentially take place. Most of these facilities recommended incentive amounts within the $65 to $75 range, but acknowledged that rural participants will have higher transportation costs. Based on the market-specific information gathered for this proposed research study, respondents in the focus groups will receive $75 as modest remuneration for participating in a 2-hour focus group. This remuneration will be provided in order to defray the cost of participation in the focus groups (parking, transportation, child care, etc.) and to provide participants with a nominal compensation. Light refreshments will also be provided to participants.

There will be a maximum of 192 respondents (24 groups with 8 or fewer respondents/group). For each group, up to 10 individuals will be recruited and, based on prior focus group experience, we realistically expect 6-8 to show for the group. However, to ensure we accurately reflect a maximum burden potential, we are estimating the burden total on the assumption that 8 will attend each group. An average total participation time of 2.5 hours for each participant includes 10 minutes responding to the screener questionnaire, 20 minutes for having the respondents read and sign consent forms, complete name tags, enjoy refreshments, and 120 minutes to participate in the focus group. This culminates in a maximum total annual hour burden of 480 hours.

Estimate of Burden
Types of Respondents	Number of Respondents	Frequency of Response	Average Response Time (Hours)	Annual Hour Burden	Hourly Wage Rate	Annual Respondent Cost
General Public	192	1	2.5	480	$75.00	$36,000

Assuming respondents are compensated by the proposed maximum remuneration amount of $75.00/hour (depending on locality); the total annual respondent cost is estimated at $36,000 for the proposed focus group study.

Attachments: A) Focus Group Recruitment Screener,

B) Moderator’s guide for Participants with No Cancer Experience

C) Moderator’s guide for Participants with Cancer Experience

D) Overall Research Design

E) Recruitment Charts

The full generic study, approved on January 26, 2007, requested a total of 2010 burden hours. There have been 15 previous sub-studies approved by OMB under this umbrella submission, totaling 1208 burden hours requested to date. Approval by OMB of this sub-study would bring the total burden hour requested to date for 0925-0046 to 1688; well below the original request of 2010 hours.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposed sub-study #0925-0046-16.

Endnotes

1 http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/healthcare/Fact_Sheet_Cancer_FINAL.pdf (accessed May 20, 2009).

2 This statistic comes from the Hard Times in the Heartland: Health Care in Rural America report produced by the DHHS and available on the www.healthreform.gov Web site (accessed June 10, 2009), which offers this and other timely and relevant information on the uninsured and rural populations within the U.S.

3 Krueger, R.A., (1994). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research, (2nd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

4 Based on 2000 Census data, all U.S. zip codes have been classified into one of ten Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service with assistance from the University of Washington; accessed at http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/rurality/ruralurbancommutingareas/ (accessed June 4, 2009). RUCA codes are based on the same theoretical concepts used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to define county-level metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Similar criteria are applied to measure population density, urbanization, and daily commuting to identify urban cores and adjacent territory that is economically integrated with those cores. The use of census tracts instead of counties as building blocks for RUCA codes provides a different and more detailed geographic pattern of settlement classification. A ZIP code approximation of the RUCA codes is available and based on an overlay of ZIP code areas on census tracts. Note: the NCI Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) uses a 9-point rural-urban classification system based on the RUCA codes; however, the public use data file does not include zip code information.

5 According to NCI Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results data from 2001-2005, the age-adjusted cancer death for all Americans is 634.4 deaths per 100,000; Africans Americans have an age-adjusted cancer death rate of 773.1 deaths per 100,000 (accessed at http://seer.cancer.gov/ on June 8, 2009).

6 The real median annual household income was $50,233 in 2007 based on U.S. Census Bureau report: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007 - http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p60-235.pdf (accessed June 10, 2009).

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