Analysis on Death Anxiety of the Elderly in Macau / 中国医学伦理学

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the death anxiety of the elderly in Macau and identify the relevant factors and the content of death anxiety.Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted and the Chinese Version of Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (CTDAS) was used to investigate 400 old people in seven elderly centers by trained investigators.Results:Totally 400 questionnaires were returned and the death anxiety in Macau elderly was at a relatively low level (4.38 ± 3.20).Gender,age,and perceived health status were related to death anxiety (P ＜ 0.05).The majority of Macau elderly were not afraid of death (83.7％) but were anxious about the pains and sufferings in the dying process (61.8％).Conclusion:The elderly in Macau are open and positive towards death,which is conducive to further exploring the coping style of death anxiety and the preparation for their own death.