Investigation of Death Anxiety in Turkish Intensive Care Nurses After the Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine factors affecting intensive care nurses’ death anxiety levels in the post-pandemic period. 
 Material and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with intensive care nurses between May and June 2022 (n=522). Data were obtained with the Introductory Information Form and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale. 
 Results: It was determined that the death anxiety levels of the nurses were high. The death anxiety scale mean scores of the participants were determined as 11.30±0.99 (min:8, max:15). The death anxiety level of the nurses who have a graduate degree and are between the ages of 31-40 was found to be higher than that of their other colleagues. No statistically significant difference was found between nurses' gender, marital status, chronic illness, years of working in the profession, and the death anxiety scale total score (p>0.05). 
 Conclusions: The results of the research can be a reference understanding the death anxiety of intensive care nurses. Involving nurses in a comprehensive death education program that gives them the opportunity to express their feelings can help reduce their anxiety.