Trust and Communication Quality with Patients: Exploring the Role of Death and COVID-19 Anxiety

Background and Objective: COVID-19 caused many problems in society, including increased fear and anxiety. The present study examined the relationship between patients' death anxiety, COVID-19 anxiety, and trust and quality of communication with patients during the COVID-19 outbreak. Materials and Methods: This correlational study was conducted on 247 patients during the COVID- 19 outbreak. The data collection tools included the demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Templer death anxiety scale (DAS), the coronavirus disease anxiety scale (CDAS), the trust in nurses scale, and the nurse quality of communication with patient questionnaire (NQCPQ). Results: Of the participants, 10.9% and 69.6% had high COVID-19 anxiety and death anxiety, respectively. There was no significant correlation between death anxiety, trust (r = -0.02; p = 0.73), and communication (r = -0.09; p = 0.13). A negative significant correlation was found between COVID- 19 anxiety and communication (r = -0.26; p < 0.001), while a positive significant correlation was found between trust and communication (r = 0.35; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that patients hospitalized during the COVID-19 outbreak experienced high levels of death anxiety and moderate levels of COVID-19 anxiety. These findings highlight the importance of providing professional help to patients to reduce their anxiety and improve the quality of communication with nurses during pandemics such as COVID-19.