Functional capacity, self-rated health status, and psychosocial characteristics of employed cancer survivors in Japan

Objectives: This study investigated restrictions in functional capacity, self-rated health status (SRHS), and psychosocial characteristics of employed cancer survivors in Japan and examined differences in these characteristics between cancer survivors and employees without cancer history. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out. Subjects were local government employees in Japan in 2013 (n=5,474). Using a self-administered questionnaire, we evaluated restrictions in functional capacity, SRHS, and the following psychosocial characteristics: social support, perceived stress, social capital, positive reasons for living (ikigai), and happiness. We examined whether cancer history was associated with restrictions in functional capacity, SRHS, and psychosocial characteristics. Results: A total of 112 employees were cancer survivors. Of these, males of all ages and comparatively younger females had restrictions in functional capacity more frequently than the corresponding subjects without cancer history (males of all ages: 14.5% vs. 2.9%, p<0.001; females <50 years: 15.2% vs. 1.1%, p<0.001). Among males of all ages, cancer survivors reported bad SRHS more frequently than employees without cancer history (8.1% vs. 1.5%, p=0.003). No significant differences were found in psychosocial characteristics by cancer history. Conclusions: Male and comparatively young female employed cancer survivors frequently experienced restrictions in functional capacity. Male employed cancer survivors self-rated their health status as bad more frequently than male employees without cancer history.