The Relationship Between Fear of Death and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Individuals Having Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objective: The study aims to investigate the relationship between fear of death and healthy lifestyle behaviors in individuals undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Materials and Methods: The sample number was determined to be 109. The study was carried out in the angiography unit and cardiology clinics of a hospital. Data were collected using the Thorson-Powell Death Anxiety and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors II Scales. Results: The patients' death anxiety scale score was 55.17±11.52 and their healthy lifestyle behavior scale score was 123.51±14.56. A negative relationship (r = -0.683, p = 0.003) was found between death anxiety and healthy lifestyle behavior scales. As death anxiety increased, healthy lifestyle behaviors decreased. A negative correlation was found between death anxiety level and physical activity (r = -0.720, p=0.002). As physical activity decreased, death anxiety level increased. Conclusions: In order for patients to experience less death anxiety, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, such as diet, exercise, spiritual development, stress management, and a healthy social life, should be known. Healthy lifestyle education programs should be applied to patients. To ensure permanence, patients should be supported with visuals and brochures, and training should be repeated.