# Proposed Collection; Comment Request
**AGENCY:**
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD(HA)), Department of Defense (DoD).
**ACTION:**
60-Day information collection notice.
**SUMMARY:**
In compliance with the *Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,* the Defense Health Agency announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
**DATES:**
Consideration will be given to all comments received by November 13, 2023.
**ADDRESSES:**
You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:
*Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
*Mail:* Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
*Instructions:* All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this *Federal Register* document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at *http://www.regulations.gov* as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Defense Health Agency, 7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042, Terry McDavid, 703-681-3645.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
*Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number:* The Effect of Alcohol Intake on Resilience and Recovery Outcomes Using Alcohol Flush as an Instrumental Variable (Alcohol Flush); OMB Control Number 0720-FLSH.
*Needs and Uses:* The study's objective is to investigate causal models of alcohol use on resilience measures ( *e.g.,* posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]). This research objective will be accomplished by (a) collecting a self-report survey and (b) conducting genotyping and sequencing of DNA (potentially up to whole genomic sequencing) from samples of Active Duty Service Members (ADSM; ≥21 years old, n=999.). The compelling need for administration of the survey component of the *Alcohol Flush Study* rests on these four methodological requirements:
• Concurrent collection of demographics, research health information (RHI), and self-reported alcohol consumption
• Avoid potential statistical confounding by implementing systematic data collection across all participants to address research questions and perform statistical modeling,
• Ability to link survey data to genotyping and sequencing data,
• Ability to re-contact participants for future research.
This research will deliver a knowledge product that will inform policy and practice in the Military Health System (MHS). We further expect to identify alcohol as a potential modifiable risk factor related to PTSD and other mental health conditions, which could go beyond the MHS into embedded mental health services for prevention and intervention for at-risk individuals. In the context of Precision Medicine, this survey establishes a cohort who may be contacted for participation in additional research, tailors medical care to optimize efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and patient-centeredness of therapeutic approaches using genetic profiling. The long-term impact of this study has the potential to lower inappropriate utilization, thus reducing costs while improving health-related quality of life and optimizing Readiness.
Information collected in this survey will be used for research purposes to fulfill the objectives of this grant-funded study which aligns to a requirement to “better understand the impact of alcohol use on resiliency and recovery.” The findings will be interpreted by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, scientists, behavioral psychologists, and healthcare services researchers to (a) inform policy and (b) make recommendations for practice in the contest of Precision Medicine.
*Affected Public:* Individuals and households.
*Annual Burden Hours:* 999.
*Number of Respondents:* 999.
*Responses per Respondent:* 1.
*Annual Responses:* 999.
*Average Burden per Response:* 1 Hour.
*Frequency:* On occasion.
Dated: September 5, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.