[Experiencing brain death, physician view-a phenomenological approach]. / Hirntod erleben, ärztliche Sichtweise ­ ein phänomenologischer Ansatz.

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine how physicians experience caring for (potentially) brain-dead patients. METHODS: Episodic interviews were conducted. Their evaluation was based on Benner's interpretative phenomenology. RESULTS: Eleven physicians were interviewed. The following phenomena were extracted from the data: (1) encounter with the relatives, (2) making relatives understand brain death, (3) brain death is death, (4) experience of the nurses and (5) burdens. CONCLUSION: The results show the complexity that is perceived by physicians when caring for a (potentially) brain-dead patient. The transition from saving the patient's life to preserving organs or switching off the equipment and informing the relatives requires a high level of expertise on the part of the physicians. The patients' symptoms provide the physicians with clear diagnostic procedures and any remaining ambiguities in the (treatment) process should be resolved.

Care of (potentially) brain-dead patients: A qualitative study protocol.

AIM: Aim of this study was to describe the experiences of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, physicians and relatives of (potentially) brain dead patients; and to develop recommendations to optimize the workflows on ICUs. BACKGROUND: Limited published information on caring for brain dead patients suggest it to be a burden for the nursing staff. It also remains unclear how physicians and relatives of (potentially) brain dead patients perceive these experiences. DESIGN: Interpretive phenomenology according to Benner. METHODS: Medical caregivers (nurses' und physicians) from multiple wards in a German University Medical Center and relatives of (potentially) brain dead patients will be interviewed. Data collection will include episodic interviews with participants' experiences in care of (potentially) brain dead patients. The study is funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, Baden-Württemberg (1 February 2016). DISCUSSION: Gaining insights into caring for (potentially) brain dead patients and its associated burden will lead to the development of better recommendations to assist all people involved. IMPACT: Expand the understanding of the experience of healthcare professionals in the care for (potentially) brain dead patients. Understand the experience of relatives of (potentially) brain dead patients. Findings from this study will support the development of recommendations for action by a multi-professional expert group consisting of nurses, physicians, healthcare managers and patient advocates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Protocol version. German Register for Clinical Studies (Registration No. DRKS00010420) Database of Health Services Research Germany (Project Nr. VfD_16_003710).