A comparative study on the meaning in life of patients with cancer and their family members

Introduction: Overwhelming effects of cancer could be catastrophic for the patients and their family members putting them at risk of experiencing uncertainty, loss, and interruption in life. Also, it can influence their sense of meaning, a fundamental need equated with purpose in life. Accordingly, this study aimed to compare the meaning in life (MiL) of patients with cancer with and their family members. Methods: This descriptive comparative study was conducted on 400 patients with cancer and their family members admitted to university hospitals in Tabriz and Ardebil provinces, Iran. The participants were sampled conveniently and the Life Evaluation Questionnaire (LEQ) were used for collecting data which analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean score for the MiL of patients with cancer and their family members was 119 ± 16.92 and 146.2 ± 17.07, respectively. There is a significant difference between patients with cancer and their family members in terms of MiL (p<0.001). Conclusion: The MiL of patients with cancer is lower than their family members which indicates the necessity for further attention to the psychological process and its modification in Iranian healthcare systems.