Objective To explore the impact of family sandplay therapy based on the narrative concept on family resilience and sense of meaning in life among gastric cancer patients.

Methods A total of 104 gastric cancer patients were selected and randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 52 patients in each group. The control group received routine nursing care, while the experimental group received family sandplay therapy based on the narrative concept in addition to routine nursing care. Both groups were assessed using the Chinese Family Resilience Assessment Scale (C-FRAS) and the Chinese Meaning in Life Questionnaire (C-MLQ) before the intervention and at 1 month and 3 months post-intervention. The scores of scales were compared.

Results After intervention, the total C-FRAS score and score of each dimension were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group, and both the total C-FRAS score and score of each dimension showed an upward with time extension. The total C-MLQ score and score of each dimension were also higher in the experimental group compared with the control group(P < 0.05).

Conclusion Family sandplay therapy based on the narrative concept can enhance family resilience and sense of meaning in life among gastric cancer patients.