title: Patients' experience during weaning of invasive mechanical ventilation: A review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is influenced by physiological and psychological factors, the latter being the least studied. The aim was to identify, through the literature, patients' experiences during weaning from IMV and report its influencing factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search was conducted using the Pubmed, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. The search terms were: "patient", "experience" and "ventilator weaning". The research limits were: age (>19years) and language (English, Spanish and Finnish).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen publications were analysed. The main results were grouped into three main categories according to patient's perceptions, feelings and experiences, influence of professionals' attention and determinants for successful weaning. Patients remember IMV weaning as a stressful process where they experience anxiety, frustration, despair or uncertainty. Nurses have a key role in improving communication with patients and foreseeing their needs. Family support and the care provided by the caregivers were shown as essential during the process. The patient's self-determination, self-motivation and confidence are identified as important factors to achieve successful IMV weaning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological care, in addition to physical and technical care, is important at providing holistic care. Interventional studies are needed to improve the care during the weaning experience.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España. Electronic address: elenamerchant@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Merchán-Tahvanainen
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero-Belmonte
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cundín-Laguna
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Basterra-Brun
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: San Miguel-Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Regaira-Martínez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D057566:Self Report; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Destete del ventilador; Experiencias de vida; Intensive care unit; Life change events; Pacientes; Patients; Unidad de cuidados intensivos; Ventilator weaning