The Relationship Between Patient Activation, Cancer-Related Symptoms, and Job Performance Among Young Adult Cancer...

Background: Cancer survivors were at higher risk of poor job performance.

We aimed to identify differences in the relationship between patient activation, cancer-related symptoms, and job performance among young adult cancer survivors with low and high workplace support.

Study Design: Our cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online survey across Japan in January 2022. Measurement and Statistical Analysis: The survey was designed to assess demographic and clinical characteristics, patient activation, physical fatigue, depression, cognitive impairments, and job performance. Multiple-group structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using data from 202 survivors.

Of participants, 53% were aged 35-39 years and 78% were female. Patient activation was positively associated with job performance (β = 0.28, p < 0.01) and negatively related to cancer-related symptoms (β = -0.30, p = 0.01), and cancer-related symptoms were negatively associated with job performance (β = -0.29, p = 0.01), only among young adult cancer survivors with low workplace support. On the other hand, in the high support group, the path coefficients from patient activation to cancer-related symptoms (β = -0.06, p = 0.76), cancer-related symptoms to job performance (β = -0.12, p = 0.37), and patient activation to job performance (β = 0.20, p = 0.21) were not significant.

Patient activation plays an important role in improving job performance, especially among young adult cancer survivors who lack workplace support. Even if obtaining workplace support is difficult for young adult cancer survivors, activation of self-management can improve their job performance.