Knowledge, Attitude and Practiceof Residentson Brain Death in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital: a Cross Sectional Study
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Date
2020-12
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background and Aims:
Brain death is defined as irreversible and complete cessation of all brain
function including that of the brainstem. The aim of this study was to assess the
level of knowledge, attitude and practice of brain-death declaration among
residents in Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital in the year 2020.
Methods:
This was a hospital based cross-sectional study in which residents from various
field of specialty were included using convenient sampling method. Pretested
questionnaire consisting of questions related to knowledge, attitude and
performance of brain-death declaration were distributed among residents as per
the inclusion criteria to fill. Statistical tools used were mean and standard
deviation, and Chi-square test.
Results: A total 123 residents responded to the questionnaire. About 81{68%}
correctly defined it as complete cessation of brain activity including brainstem
reflexes. Sixty-five {54.6%} of the residents do not agree on brain death to serve
to declare legal death .Only 11.7% of the study participants have ever attempted
brain death test.
Conclusion: The majority of the residents know about the definition of brain
death but most of them have difficulties in identifying the basic physiologic limits
which are pre conditions to diagnose brain death. More than half of them don not
accept brain death as a legal determinant of death .Practice of brain death testing
was poor
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Keywords
Brain Death