The relationship between death anxiety and quality of life in hemodialysis patients

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.

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.

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.