Perception of Brain Death amongst Neurologists, Neurosurgeons and Intensivists in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Brain death (BD) is the irreversible loss of brain function, assessed through consciousness, brainstem reflexes and apnoea testing. Previous research indicates that experienced physicians perform better in BD determination, underscoring the need for structured education. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the level of knowledge about BD amongst physicians in Saudi Arabia, comparing expertise across neurology, neurosurgery and intensive care and investigating knowledge gaps. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Amongst 162 physicians surveyed, the majority were aged 25-35 years (61.7%) and male (65.4%). Most were Saudi nationals (84.6%) and worked in governmental hospitals (92.0%). Intensivists comprised the largest speciality group (45.1%). Despite 95.1% having encountered BD patients, 41.4% felt that criteria were not well understood in their medical community. Confidence in diagnosis was 49.4%, while 51.9% had formal training. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire, targeting neurologists, neurosurgeons and intensivists through snowball sampling. Data were analysed using the SPSS 29.0.0. RESULTS: Significant associations were found between knowledge levels and factors such as age (P < 0.001), nationality (P = 0.009), experience (P < 0.001), and confidence in diagnosis (P = 0.025). Multivariate analysis identified years of experience (P = 0.011, Exp (B) = 2.338, 95% confidence interval: 1.211-4.514) as the strongest predictor of high knowledge.. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the variability in physicians' understanding of BD, emphasising the need for enhanced training programmes and refresher courses to improve competency in diagnosis and criteria adherence.