| Introduction:
The overwhelming effects of cancer could be catastrophic for the patients and their family members, putting them at risk of experiencing uncertainty, loss, and an interruption in life. Also, it can influence their sense of meaning, a fundamental need equated with the purpose in life . Accordingly, this study aimed to compare the meaning in life (MiL) of patients with cancer
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 analyzed through de
scriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS ver. 13 Software.
Results:
The mean score for the MiL of the patients with cancer and their family
members was 119 (16.92)and 146.2 (17.07), respectively. There was a significant difference between patients with cancer and their amily members in terms of MiL.Conclusion:The MiL of patients with cancer is lowerthan that of their family members, which indicates the eed for further attention to the psychological processes and their modification in Iranian healthcare systems |