Relationship Between Death Anxiety and Religious Attitude in Patients Awaiting Kidney Transplantation in Türkiye

This study aimed to explore the relationship between death anxiety and religious attitudes in patients awaiting kidney transplantation. This descriptive and cross sectional study was conducted with 400 individuals awaiting kidney transplantation who presented for examination at the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center polyclinic in a province of Türkiye. Data were obtained using the "Patient Information Form," "Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS)," and "Ok-Religious Attitude Scale (Islam) (ORASI)." It was determined that 53.3% of the patients were male, 43.7% had been on dialysis for 5-8 years, and 49.2% had been waiting for a kidney transplant for 1-3 years. It was determined that the patients' total ORASI average was 30.73 ± 3.86 (high level), and the TDAS score average was 8.02 ± 1.64 (medium level). A high-level negative correlation was found between the total mean score of the ORASI and the total mean score of the TDAS (r:-0.642; p < 0.01). It was determined that the total ORASI score significantly predicted the level of TDAS (β = -.880, t = 4.18, p < .001). As patients' death anxiety increases, their religious attitudes decrease. A multidisciplinary team approach should be taken to help patients awaiting kidney transplantation cope with their fear of death, including religious leaders in their care.