The relationship between thanatophobia and perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care among intensive care nurses.

AIM: This study aims to determine the relationship between thanatophobia and perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care among intensive care nurses. The research was conducted using a descriptive and correlational design.

METHODS

This study included 198 nurses working in the intensive care units of state and university hospitals in a province in western Turkey between January 2025 and April 2025. Data were collected using three different instruments: a sociodemographic information form, the Thanatophobia Scale (TS), and the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS).

RESULTS

The mean TS score of the nurses participating in the study was 26.52 ± 9.02 (high). The mean SSCRS score was 52.79 ± 9.22 (high). A significant positive correlation was found between TS and SSCRS (r = 0.28; p < 0.001). The effect of TS on SSCRS was positive and significant (β = 0.28, p < 0.001). The coefficient of determination of the model (R2 = 0.07) indicates that TS explains 7% (medium) of the variation in SSCRS.

CONCLUSION

This study found that as the fear of death increased among intensive care nurses, their perception of spirituality and spiritual care also increased moderately. Since intensive care nurses frequently encounter death, it is recommended that they receive institutional support to cope with their fear of death. Furthermore, it is suggested that interdisciplinary training programs be organized and provided to enable intensive care nurses to provide spiritual care.