The Cancer Outcomes Measurement Working Group: rationale overview and a look to the future

In 2001, the US National Cancer Institute created the Cancer Outcomes Measurement Working Group (COMWG) to assess the state-of-the-science of outcomes assessment in cancer and to make recommendations for moving the field forward. The COMWG focused on methods for assessing patient-reported outcomes (health-related QoL, patient needs and satisfaction and economic burden) in four cancers (breast, prostate, lung and colorectal) across the continuum of care (prevention/screening, treatment, survivorship and end-of-life). COMWG members also considered different perspectives on, and uses of, patient-reported outcomes data, including individual clinician-patient decision making, clinical trials and observational studies, and population surveillance and policy making. This Special Report describes the rationale behind the COMWGs creation, summarizes the COMWGs activities, notes selected findings and looks to the future of outcomes assessment in cancer.