SS Part B

Evaluating the Health Hazard Evaluation Program’s Communication with Local Health Departments

OSTLTS Generic Information Collection Request

OMB No. 0920-0879

SUPPORTING STATEMENT – Section B

Submitted: 30 May 2012

Program Official/Project Officer

Allison Tepper, Branch Chief

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch

4676 Columbia Pkwy R-9

Cincinnati OH 45226

Phone: 513-841-4425

E-mail: [email protected]

Fax: 513.841-4488

Part B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods

The respondent universe is comprised of the 26 local health departments in 16 states that received HHE investigation notifications or reports between March 2011 and April 2012 and 26 local health departments that did not receive this information. Because the first group includes the entire universe of potential respondents, no sampling strategy will be employed. The second group will be selected at random from a size-stratified list of all other local health departments in the same state as the department that received the information. The local health departments will be identified from the listings available through HealthGuideUSA Website (Attachment K). The list of health departments in each state will be stratified by size of population served so that each department in the first group is “matched” to a department in the second group in the same state and of size stratum. Three size strata will be used: <50,000, 50,000-499,999, and >=500,000 corresponding to small, medium, and large departments as classified by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO 2010 Profile of Local Health Departments), Attachment L).

Table B-1: Potential Respondent Universe
Entity	Potential Respondent	N
Local health department	Local health department director or designee	52
Total Universe of Potential Respondents		52

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information

Data will be collected through a one-time web-based survey administered to 52 local health department directors or their designees. The web-based survey will be hosted on the Survey Monkey website.

An initial email notification/invitation will be sent to Local Health Department Directors (Attachment H) informing them about the survey, providing them with a link to the online survey, survey instructions, and information that explains:

• the purpose of the evaluation, and why their participation is important

• the confidentiality of their responses

• the time frame for the survey

• an option for completing the survey by email

• that participation is voluntary, and

• contact information for the project team.

The survey will remain open for 15 business days to allow ample time for respondents to complete the survey. Respondents have to complete the survey in a single session. Reminders will be emailed on day 7 of the survey (Attachment I) and day 12 of the survey (Attachment J). Reminder phone calls (Attachment J) will be made on day 14.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Nonresponse

The survey notification email (Attachment H) and reminders by email and telephone (Attachments I and J) will be sent to each potential respondent to maximize response rates. The emails will be sent by the Branch Chief, Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch, which administers the HHE program. It will explain the purpose of the survey and why the respondent’s participation is important. It will include contact information for answering any questions. Two email reminders and a personal telephone call by project staff will help to maximize the response rates. Higher response rates will yield more reliable information; however, no scientific inferences will be made.

4. Test of Procedures or Methods to be Undertaken

The survey was pilot tested on five CDC/NIOSH health professionals. The results were used to refine the questions and establish the estimated time for completing the survey. The minimum completion time was 5 minutes, the median was 6 minutes, and the maximum was 9 minutes. A rounded value of 10 minutes was used to determine the burden.

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects and Individuals Collecting

and/or Analyzing Data

The survey was designed by Allison Tepper, Branch Chief, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH/CDC, [email protected], 513.841.4425. Dr. Tepper is the principal investigator for the project and will supervise a summer student intern who will be handling the day-to-day activities related to data collection, analysis, and report writing. In designing the survey, Dr. Tepper was assisted by Ms. Stefanie Evans, MA, Health Communications Specialist, NIOSH/CDC, [email protected], 513.841.4581. Ms. Judith Riley, Technical Information Specialist, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH/CDC, [email protected], 513.841.4341, will assist in providing contact information for local health officials.

The quantitative data will be analyzed using basic descriptive analyses. Because the major purpose of this data collection is program improvement, we do not anticipate needing to use complex statistical techniques. The qualitative data will be reviewed by HHE Program managers.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS – Section B

Note: Attachments are included as separate files, as instructed

8. Email notification/invitation

9. First email reminder

10. Final email and telephone reminder

11. Web links to local health departments

12. NACCHO survey of local health departments

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