Nurses' Death Anxiety and Spirituality

Purpose: This study was a descriptive research study that investigates nurses' beliefs concerning death anxiety and spirituality. Method: The subjects were 150 nurses working at general hospitals located in Busan city. Data collection was carried out from October 15 to November 30, 2008. The study used a 'Death Anxiety Scale' and a 'Korean Spirituality Scale.' The collected data was analyzed for frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient with the SPSS/WIN 17.0. Result: The level of death anxiety of the subjects averaged 3.25. In each sub-factor, 'awareness of shortness of time' was the highest at 3.57 points. Spirituality level of the subjects averaged 3.51. In each sub-factor, meaning and purpose of life was the highest at 3.70 points. In differences of death anxiety followed by general characteristics, there were significant differences according to age, and educational level. For spirituality, followed by general characteristics, there were significant differences according to age, educational level, religion, working period, and understanding about death and spirituality. There was a weak inverse correlation among fear for accidents involved with death, total spirituality level and meaning, and purpose of life. Conclusion: Future research should examine relations between nurses' death anxiety and spirituality level through random sampling and research to check psychological and social variables that influence death anxiety and spirituality. Development of a program to lessen nurses' death anxiety and to raise their spirituality level would be prudent.

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