The Evaluation of Relation between Death Anxiety and General Health with Spiritual Well-being in Patients with Cancer in Shiraz City, 2015

Cancer is considered in the society as a debilitating and hard-to-cure disease and when it is diagnosed the affected person is exposed to the stress and anxiety and the reduced social energy from the unreal fear of death. Therefore, the requirement for frequent hospitalizations and constant worries among patients and their families will expose the affected person to mental disorders. The objective of the present study was to determine the relation between death anxiety and general health with spiritual well-being in patients with cancer that was conducted in Shiraz in 2015. It was a Descriptive-Correlation study and 150 patients who suffered from cancers participated in this study by Convenience Sampling Method. In order to collect data, Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Spiritual Well-being Scale Palutzian &Ellison (SWBS) were used. Data analysis was performed by the descriptive statistics tests and Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Multiple regression via Statistical Software (SPSS). The results indicated that there was a significant and reverse relation between death anxiety and spiritual well-being. There was a significant and direct relation between death anxiety and general health .There was a significant and reverse relation between general health and spiritual well-being. Also, the matrixes of Pearson correlation coefficient indicated that there was a significant and reverse relation between all subscales of spiritual well-being, general health and death anxiety. In another word, as the spiritual well-being is raised, the death anxiety and negative aspects of general health decreases. Results of regression analysis showed Spiritual Well-being could predict death anxiety. Spiritual Well-being has a positive effect on death anxiety and reduces death anxiety. Increasing the negative aspects of general health could predict death anxiety. Increasing the negative aspects of general health has a negative effect and increase death anxiety. Given the findings of the present study, developing a comprehensive training and supportive program with a spiritual approach seems essential alongside the other (physical, mental, and social) supportive and protective issues for patients suffering from cancer.