Request for Approval

Health Message Testing System Expedited Review Form
1. Title of Study: (Please append screener and questionnaire)

Examining the role of communication emphasizing consequences, protective actions, and different target
populations in an infectious disease outbreak
2. Study Population: (Discuss study population and explain how they will be selected/recruited.)

Participants will be drawn from Knowledge Networks KnowledgePanel®, an online survey panel that is
representative of the United States population. The sample is drawn by Knowledge Networks, not the
study investigators. (See Attachment 1)
Respondent characteristics:
Number of subject: 2400

Number of males:

proportional to population

Age range: over 18

Number of females: proportional to population

Racial/ethnic composition: proportional to population
Special group status: (e.g., risk group, health care providers)
Type of group(s): N/A
Geographic location(s): N/A

3. Incentives: (State what incentive will be offered and justify proposed incentives to be used in study.)

Study participants will not receive any study-specific incentive. Knowledge Networks panel members
either receive a tablet computer and internet service in exchange for participation in the overall panel or
are enrolled in a points system by which they earn between $4 and $6 a month in exchange for completing
surveys. These are provided by GfK and not by Johns Hopkins or CDC.

4. Study method: (Please check one below)
Central location intercept interview:
Online Interview:
Telephone interview:

Focus group:
Individual in-depth interview (cognitive interview):

(CATI used: yes or no):

Other (describe): Message testing study using an online panel

5. Purpose of the overall communication effort into which this health message(s) will fit:
(Please provide 2-3 sentences below.)

This project investigates how the public perceives messages about consequences compared to those about
protective actions as well as how the public perceives messages that target specific at-risk populations
compared to those more broadly targeted. It uses Zika as the example case. Information will help improve
the effectiveness of public health communication efforts in future public health emergencies by providing
information on message attributes most important for public acceptance. (See Attachment 1)
6. Category of time sensitivity: (Please check one below)
Health emergency:
Time-limited audience access:
Press coverage correction:
Time-limited congressional/administrative mandate:
Trend Tracking
Ineffective existing materials due to historical event/social trends:
7. Describe nature of time sensitivity: (Please provide 2-3 sentences below.)
This contract is ending in December and the research must be fielded, analyzed, and reported before the
end of the contract.

8. Number of burden hours requested: 200

BURDEN HOURS
Category of Respondent
Knowledge Networks panel

No. of
Participation
Respondents Time
2400

5/60

Burden
200 hours

Totals
9. Are you using questions from the approved question bank?

No

If yes, please list the item number(s) for questions used from the question bank separated by a comma.
(e.g., 1a, 3c, 130d)

*** Items below to be completed by Office of Associate Director for Communication (OADC)***
1. Number of burden hours remaining in current year's allocation:
2. OADC confirmation of time-sensitivity:
Yes:
No:

Project Officer
Print Form