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Background & Aim: Concerns about death may negatively affect health-related quality of life. However, little is known about the relationship between death anxiety and quality of life in life-threatening illnesses especially in hemodialysis patients. This research aimed to determine the relationship between death anxiety and quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Methods & Materials: In this descriptive correlational study, 200 hemodialysis patients were selected via stratified random sampling from hospitals affiliated with Zanjan University of Medical Sciences from April to May 2016. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the Templer Death Anxiety Scale and the McGill Quality of Life questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics, correlation test and linear regression model using SPSS v.22.

Results: The average score of death anxiety and quality of life were respectively 46.54±10.85 and 82.55±19.01. There was not a significant relationship between death anxiety and quality of life (P>0.05, r=0.044). In the regression analysis, gender was the only significant predictor for death anxiety. This model explained 11.3% of the variance of death anxiety. Moreover, the results of regression model indicated that social support and religious beliefs were only significant predictors for quality of life in hemodialysis patients, and 17.2% of its variance was explained by this model.

Conclusion: In the current study, no significant relationship was observed between death anxiety and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it is suggested that further research should be conducted in this area.

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Background & Aim: Quality of life indicates the level of individual’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the different aspects of life and has specific characteristics at each stage of life. The quality of life in the elderly may be influenced by death anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of depression and death anxiety to the quality of life among the elderly population.

Methods & Materials: This study was a cross-sectional research conducted on 294 elderly living in Saghez in 2016. Samples were selected through convenience sampling. The 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Death Anxiety Scale were used to gather the data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression by Enter method. The level of significance was considered P<0.05.

Results: The mean (and standard deviation) scores for the quality of life, depression and death anxiety among the studied elderly were respectively 33.22±7.81, 4.92±3.82 and 33.63±7.40. There was a significant relationship between depression and the quality of life (P<0.0001) but there was no significant relationship between the quality of life and death anxiety.

Conclusion: Depression is a common problem among the elderly and related to their quality of life. When assessing the quality of life in the elderly, paying attention to their depression is necessary. Appropriate diagnosis and management of depression can improve the quality of life in the elderly.

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Background & Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women and is regarded as a chronic disease with various psychological complications including death anxiety. This study aimed to examine the effect of Benson’s relaxation technique on death anxiety among women with breast cancer.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients with breast cancer referred to Velayat Hospital in Qazvin in 2017 were selected using the consecutive sampling and randomly assigned into groups of experimental and control. A questionnaire on demographic information and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale were used. Benson’s relaxation technique was taught to the patients in the experimental group. Afterward, they were asked to perform the technique for three months and were monthly followed up using checklists. The Templer Death Anxiety Scale was completed again by both groups. Data were analyzed via the SPSS software version 23 using descriptive and analytical statistics.
Results: There was no significant difference in demographic variables between the two groups (P>0.05). Before the intervention, no statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the patients of the experimental group (46.4±10.3) and the control group (49.6±10.07) (P>0.05). However, after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the experimental group (44.5±10.2) and the control group (48.9±11.2) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that Benson’s relaxation technique is effective in reducing death anxiety among patients with breast cancer.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20170610034435N8
 

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Background & Aim: The experience of approaching death is one of the undeniable facts of aging that can cause fear and anxiety in the elderly. Given that spirituality as a solid base can be a powerful factor in controlling tense situations, this study was conducted to examine the effect of spiritual group therapy on death anxiety in the elderly.
Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 50 elderly people attending the elderly daily center in Aliabad Katoul (Golestan Province) in 2018. Sampling was done using the convenience method and participants were randomly assigned into either experimental- or control group. The experimental group received spiritual group therapy in 8 sessions within eight weeks. The data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Templer death anxiety scale. Using the SPSS software version 16, data were analyzed through independent t-test, paired t-test and covariance test at a significance level of less than 0.05.
Results: The rate of death anxiety before the intervention in the experimental- and control group were 7.36±3.67 and 7.32±1.65 respectively, which did not show a statistically significant difference (P=0.961). After the intervention, the average score of death anxiety for the experimental group was 5.24±3.28 and for the control group was 7.84±1.92 which showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results, it is recommended to provide the necessary conditions to the elderly to participate in spiritual activities, which can be effective in improving the psychological state of the elderly.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20181207041877N1