As already mentioned, since the failure in weaning leads to an increase of complications and mortality, and prolonged mechanical ventilation time and hospitalization in the ICU, the necessity of development of a criterion that can predict the outcomes of weaning is revealed, and this study was conducted to develop such a tool. In proceeding toward the direction of access to research goals, the PWT was developed as a tool with consensus >70% in three domains of respiration status with 9 items, cardiovascular status with 4 items, and general condition with 13 items.
Each item was scored ranging from score 3 (for patients with appropriate condition regarding the related item), score 2 (for the conditions in which the patients needed care), to score 1 (for the critical conditions in which the patients needed immediate intervention). Option of not applicable was also considered for the items that could not be calculated Total scores ranged 26-75 and a score of ≥50 showed patients’ readiness for weaning (based on the participants’ viewpoints in the fourth stage of research). It is hoped that this tool may be used in promotion of weaning process quality.