SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025
Cancer patients' perceptions of the meaning in life: a qualitative meta-synthesis.
Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeCancer as a major adverse life event may cause suffering for patients and promote meaning-making. However, not all cancer patients can successfully construct meaning in life. A comprehensive and in-depth understanding of cancer patients' perceptions on the meaning in life is important for providing support and inspiration in clinical practice and research. This study used qualitative meta-synthesis to explore cancer patients' perceptions of meaning in life.
methodsA systematic search of 11 English and Chinese databases was conducted from their inception to May 2024. Two researchers independently performed study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction. The Joanna Briggs Institutes (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. A meta-aggregative strategy was employed to synthesize the findings, and the JBI ConQual approach was applied to evaluate the dependability and credibility of the research.
resultsA total of 25 eligible studies were included in the meta-synthesis, conducted across 12 countries and involving 730 cancer patients. Three synthesized findings emerged: paths to discovering meaning in life, dynamic meaning-making processes, and challenges in the meaning-making processes. These findings encompassed eight categories: power of support, blooming of self-worth, positive attitude toward facing challenges, gift of experience, normalization of life, seeking illness attribution, finding meaning in the illness, rearranging life priorities, change of value, physical challenges, psychological challenges, and practical challenges.
conclusionsThe meaning-making process of cancer patients is a dynamic and multidimensional journey, filled with transformative experiences, while also accompanied by physical, psychological, and practical challenges. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42023447664.
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Registered trials
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