Relationship between daily spiritual experiences and fear of death in hemodialysis patients

This study was an analytic cross-sectional (correlation). The statistical population was patients who admitted to the Kermanshah Imam Reza hospital for dialysis. Correlation formula was used to determine of the sample size. 50 patients were selected using convenience sampling in one-month period. Two questionnaires were used in this study, one of them was the Cult - Lester fear of death Scale and the other was daily spiritual experiences scale. The relationship between fear of death and spiritual dimensions were determined by the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and regression. Difference of death fear scale in terms of gender, age and education was determined by t-test analysis using SPSS version 18. In this study significant relationship was seen between fear of death and spirituality in hemodialy- sis patients. There was no difference between men and women about fear of death. Fear of death average scores differences were not significant in age groups. It also found no significant association between age and Spirituality. The mean score of fear of death in people with a college education is more than whom were high school and under graduates, so that the difference was significant. There was no significant correlation between fear of death and spiritual needs. High religious belief and religious activity leading to reduce death fear. This study showed that spiritual matters should be considered for patient's treatment. Because, spiritual matters reduces the fear of death and reduce anxiety and thereby contribute to the disease process.