Introduction:

The evidence obtained from previous research suggests that there is more anxiety related to dying compared with death. Nevertheless, more research is needed.

Objective:

To analyze the fear of death and dying, oneself and others, in the pediatric service personnel at Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín.

Methodology:

This was a transversal analytic study to apply the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale on 143 people: 25,2 % were general pediatricians and subspecialists, 70,6 % were professional nurses and medical assistants, and 4,2 % were respiratory therapists. The analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher, StudentsT, ANOVA and Cronbach's Alpha.

Results:

Here we report the mean of one's fear of death is lower than the fear of others' death. There is no difference when comparing the fear of one's process of dying mean, rather than when it's others. Fear of death is higher in professional nurses and lower in pediatric subspecialists. The study shows higher fear of death in the ICU-IMC services (mean: 3,53 SD: 0,88) compared with the emergency room (mean:2,66 SD: 0,59). There is a statistical association between fear of death and being a woman (p=0,000), having a religious belief (p=0,048) and job position (p=0,007). The scale has a high internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha: 0,95).

Discussion:

It is important to mention that this research was conducted during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the fear had decreased, and with more knowledge and the vaccines were ready, the results are coherent with other papers.

Conclusion:

In this study the higher fear of death was associated with being a woman, having a religious belief and working in ICU-IMC compared to the emergency room.