Levels of Death Anxiety, Death Related Depression of Health Personnel Providing Emergency Medical Services and Their Coping Methods

Abstract

Objectives: This study was carried out to specify the death anxiety and death related depression of health personnel providing emergency medical services in Province of Duzce and their coping methods. Methods: Sample of study was 141 (78 females, 63 males) health personnel working in emergency institutions providing medical services found within the borders of the Province of Duzce. Research data was collected by applying ``Introduction Form{''}, ``Templer's Death Anxiety Scale{''} and ``Death Related Depression Scale{''} tests. Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis, Mann-Whitney U-test, and correlation coefficient were used in the statistical analysis of data. Results: Death anxiety in emergency medical personnel is low and death related depression was at a medium level. Death anxiety and death related depression scores of women were higher in comparison to men. In addition, death anxiety levels and death related depression scores of personnel using ineffective coping methods were higher. A significant relationship between death anxiety and death related depression was determined. Also, a positive correlation between duration of working in emergency medical services and death related depression was observed. Conclusion: This study determined that the personnel working in emergency medical services needed psychological counseling and education about effective coping methods with death fact.