The Relationship between Spiritual Experiences with Hope to be Alive and Death Anxiety in Burned Patients

Past studies have shown that people's spiritual experiences can play a prominent role in their health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between spiritual experiences with life expectancy and death anxiety in burned patients.

In a cross-sectional study, burned patients aged 16-80 years referred to Velayat hospital in Rasht, Iran, who suffered burns more than 20% of whole body surface or/and burns more than 10% of head and face surface were included using available sampling method. Data collection tools were 4 questionnaires including demographic characteristics, Snyder's Hope Life Questionnaire, Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) and Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with burn patients.

There was a statistically significant positive relationship between spiritual experiences and life expectancy; so that patients with stronger spiritual experiences had higher life expectancy. There was also a significant inverse relationship between burn extent and death anxiety. By controlling demographic variables, a statistically significant relationship was observed between spiritual experiences with death anxiety and life expectancy.

The results of this study showed a positive and significant relationship between life expectancy and patients' daily spiritual experiences. It seems that in order to enhance the positive effects of life expectancy in care programs for burned patients, things such as support, facilitation, and attention to the spiritual desires and needs of patients should be considered.