Prepared for:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

540 Gaither Road

Rockville, MD 20850

www.ahrq.gov

Contract No. 290-02-003

Prepared by:

Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center

RAND, Santa Monica, CA

SCEPC Directors

Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., Ph.D.

Sally C. Morton, Ph.D.

Principal Investigators

Karl Lorenz, M.D., M.S.H.S.

Joanne Lynn, M.D.

Reviewers

Sydney Dy, M.D.

Ronda Hughes, Ph.D., M.H.S., R.N.

Richard A. Mularski, M.D., M.S.H.S.

Lisa R. Shugarman, Ph.D.

Anne M. Wilkinson, Ph.D.

Medical Editor

Sydne J. Newberry, Ph.D.

Programmer/Analyst

Afshin Rastegar, M.S.

Task Order Coordinator

Cony Rolón, B.A.

Staff Assistant

Susan Chen, B.A.

AHRQ Publication No. 06-E001

May 2006

This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission except those copyrighted materials noted for which further reproduction is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders.

Suggested Citation:

Lorenz K, Lynn K, Dy S, et al. Cancer Care Quality Measures: Symptoms and End-of-Life Care. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 137. (Prepared by the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-003.) AHRQ Publication No. 06-E001. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. May 2006.

This report is based on research conducted by the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-02-003). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its contents, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

None of the investigators has any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.