The Relationship Between Patient Activation, Cancer-Related Symptoms, and Job Performance Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors with Low and High Workplace Support: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background/Objectives: 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. Methods: Our cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online survey across Japan in January 2022. 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 young adult cancer survivors. Results: Of the 202 participants, 53% were aged 35–39 years, 78% were female, and 67% were permanent workers. 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. Conclusions: 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.