Meaning of Life in People With Leukemia in Tehran, Iran: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background & Aims Diagnosis with cancer can change the meaning of life. When people with cancer correctly perceive the meaning of life, they learn how to fight the disease and finally. The present study aims to investigate the meaning of life in Iranian people with leukemia. Materials & Methods This is a descriptive research. The study population consists of all people with leukemia admitted to the oncology departments of two hospitals in Tehran in 2022. Of these, 200 eligible patients were selected using a continuous sampling method. The data collection tools included a demographic form and Steger’s meaning of life questionnaire (MLQ), as a self-report tool. Descriptive and inferential statistics (analysis of variance, independent t-test) were used for data analysis in SPSS v.16 software. Results The mean MLQ score was 57.13±11.39. Also, the mean score for the dimension of the presence of meaning (29.14±5.90) was higher than the score for the dimension of the search for meaning (27.98±6.21). The MLQ score was significantly different only based on the marital status (P=0.011); the mean MLQ score in married patients was significantly higher. Conclusion The results of this research can be a step towards the implementation of training programs based on meaning of life by nurses for people with leukemia to improve the presence of meaning in life and the search for it in these patients.

Keywords

• leukemia
• meaning in life
• mental health