Introductory letters from the Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, were sent to the director of each hospital to obtain permission for, and cooperation with, the conduct of the study. The principal investigator (PI) subsequently obtained a list of healthcare providers from each hospital; she directly contacted healthcare providers, reviewed the study procedures, and obtained informed consent for study participation. Participants were recruited between August 2013 and May 2014.
Practice Observations. The PI observed mechanical ventilation weaning practice at each study site between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM; each observation lasted 4 – 6 hours. The purposes of the observations were to develop relationships with staff to enhance recruitment of study participants and provide context for understanding and facilitating focus group discussions.