Abstract
Palliative care is a holistic approach that improves the quality of life of patients and family members facing life-threatening illness. Advanced-stage cancer patients often express existential concerns about the meaning, purpose, and meaninglessness of life. This study was designed and implemented to develop a meaning-centered program based on Frankl's logotherapy. Preliminary testing was conducted to assess its potential effects in young adults with advanced-stage cancer.
The developmental process was undertaken in 4 distinct phases: planning, design, construction, and evaluation. For preliminary testing, 12 participants were recruited at a cancer hospital in South Korea. Meaning of life and quality of life were measured and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the paired t-test.
A meaning-centered program was entitled "Meaning of My Life." The 5 individual sessions of the program were named as follows: "Essence of human mind," "Creative work," "Experience of love and values," "Changing one's attitude," and "Selection and responsibility." Meaning of life (t = 5.52, P < .001) and quality of life (t = 4.62, P = .001) mean scores were significantly different between before and after the program.
The study shows that the meaning-centered program could be used as an effective intervention for young adult patients faced with life-threatening disease.