Attitudes toward death and quality of life among older adults at a police hospital in Metropolitan Lima

Cruz M.A.B. · Horizonte Medico (2026) · DOI: 10.24265/horizmed.2026.v26n2.04

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between attitudes toward death and quality of life among older adults treated at a police hospital in Metropolitan Lima from April 1 to 8, 2026. Materials and methods: This quantitative, non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 older adults treated at a police hospital. Attitudes toward death were assessed using the Death Attitude Profile–Revised (DAP–R) questionnaire, while quality of life was measured with the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected using a data collection form. Sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics were described using medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs), as well as absolute and relative frequencies. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between attitudes toward death and quality of life. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The median age was 69 years (IQR: 65–72) and the sex distribution was equal (50% male and 50% female). Most participants reported a “Good” quality of life (51.8%), and attitudes toward death were similarly distributed across the low (30.9%), moderate (34.5%), and high (34.5%) categories. Among participants with a “Poor” quality of life, a high level of attitudes toward death was the most prominent (66.7%). Among those with a “Fair” quality of life, a high level of attitudes toward death also predominated (40.4%), whereas among those with a “Good” quality of life, a low level of attitudes toward death was the most frequent (42.1%). Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between attitudes toward death and quality of life (rho =-0.270; p = 0.004). Conclusions: A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between attitudes toward death and quality of life among older adults treated at a police hospital in Metropolitan Lima, indicating that higher levels of attitudes toward death are associated with lower perceived quality of life.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos