Comparison of Death Anxiety, Death Obsession, and Humor Among Nurses Working in Medical-Surgical Departments and Intensive Care Units

Death anxiety and obsession are human tensions that routinely present in nursing. The sense of humor is also associated with obsession and anxiety. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the level of death anxiety, death obsession, and sense of humor among nurses working in medical-surgical wards and intensive care units in Iran. This is a descriptive-analytical study. The research population comprised 240 nurses working in intensive care units and medical-surgical departments in Kerman. The research instrument was composed of a demographic questionnaire, death obsession scale (DOS), Templer death anxiety scale (TDAS), and humor styles questionnaire (HSQ). The mean scores of nurse’s death anxiety in intensive care units and medical-surgical wards were 7.46 ± 3.43 and 5.46 ± 2.84, respectively. The mean scores of death obsession in intensive care units and medical-surgical wards were 30.47 ± 11.17 and 26.38 ± 11.67, respectively. The mean scores of the sense of humor in the two groups were 117.37 ± 21.31 and 109.56 ± 23.47, respectively. The mean scores of death anxiety, death obsession, and sense of humor among nurses were significantly higher in intensive care units than in medical-surgical wards (P < 0.05). It is necessary to determine the sources of death anxiety and obsession and strengthen the sense of humor in nurses to provide better healthcare.