The correlation between death anxieties with self-care in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease referring to masih daneshvari hospital, 2018.

In elderly patients, the prevalence of chronic diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is increased. COPD causes many problems, including dyspnea, fatigue, depression, malnutrition and limitation in daily activities and death anxiety among patients that can affect their self-care.

This study considered as a descriptive-correlation study in 128 elderly with COPD that referred to Masih daneshvari hospital in Tehran with accessible sampling method. Research tools were included demographic information questionnaire, Templer death anxiety questionnaire and Elderly self-care questionnaire. Data were analyzed by spss v.16 software using Spearman’s correlation test, One-way ANOVA and   Independent t-test.

Mean and standard deviation total score of death anxiety was 60.09±8.3 in the score range of 15-75. Mean and standard deviation total score of self-care was 94.89±4.85 in the score range of 40-160. Based on the spearman correlation test, there was statistically significant and reverse correlation between death anxieties with self-care (r=-0.590, p=0.001)

The results of our study showed that the level of death anxiety in elderly patients with COPD was high. Death anxiety in patients has a negative effect on their self-care ability.