Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-5960 and send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to: omb@cdc.gov.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

Conduct a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Registry Pilot Test (Bibb County, Georgia)—New—National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

CDC is tasked with establishing a registry of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other fatiguing illnesses. The objective of the registry is to identify persons with unexplained fatiguing illnesses, including CFS, who access the healthcare system because of their symptoms. Patients will be between the ages of 12 and 59, inclusive.

Specific aims of the registry are; (1) Identify and enroll patients with CFS and other unexplained fatiguing illnesses who are receiving medical and ancillary medical care and describe their epidemiologic and clinical characteristics; (2) follow CFS patients and patients with other fatiguing illnesses over time to characterize the natural history of CFS and other unexplained fatiguing illnesses; (3) assess and monitor health care providers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs concerning CFS; (4) and to identify well-characterized CFS patients for clinical studies and intervention trials. These specific aims require inclusion of subjects in early stages of CFS (i.e., ill less than one year duration) who can be followed longitudinally to assess changes in their CFS symptoms. Data on persons with CFS in the general population has been collected in a separate study and is not an objective of this Registry.

In order to determine the most effective and cost-efficient design for achieving the objective and specific aims, CDC will conduct a pilot test of the Registry of CFS and other fatiguing illnesses in Bibb County, Georgia. The CFS Registry Pilot Test will assess two Registry designs for efficacy and efficiency in identifying adult and adolescent subjects with CFS who are receiving medical and ancillary medical care. Specifically, the CFS Registry Pilot Test will evaluate surveillance of patients with CFS identified through physician practices and a surveillance of CFS patients identified by physicians and other health care providers.

The proposed study will begin when a provider refers a patient to the registry. Patients who consent to be contacted for the registry will be asked to complete a detailed telephone interview that screens for medical and psychiatric eligibility. Eligible subjects will be invited to have a clinical evaluation that comprises a physical examination; collection of blood, urine, and saliva specimens; a mental health interview; and self-administered questionnaires.

There is no cost to respondents other than their time. Patients who are clinically evaluated will be reimbursed for their time and effort. The total annualized burden hours are 2,557.