Introduction: Traumatized patients, particularly those with chest and head injuries, face unique weaning challenges due to specific physiological derangements. Multiple factors influence the complex process of weaning mechanically ventilated patients. Effective interprofessional collaboration and interaction within the health care team are essential for improving the weaning process, increasing patient safety and survival, and reducing costs and mortality. This study aimed to explain the challenges of team interaction in the weaning of trauma patients from mechanical ventilation in the intensive care units.
Method: In this qualitative study, 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians and nurses in the intensive care units of trauma hospitals in Tehran, using purposive sampling in 2023-2024. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and a content analysis approach based on Granheim's approach was used to analyze data and extract concepts and themes.
Result: The results of the analysis of participants' experiences revealed that the main challenges of care team interactions in the weaning process of mechanically ventilated patients could be summarized into three themes: "Damage to the Interprofessional Chain of Trust," "Defective Circulation of Power in Decision-Making," and "Neglecting Interprofessional Team Care."
Conclusion: Purposeful team interaction requires mutual trust based on capabilities and values, continuous interaction, the use of problem-solving and negotiation approaches in conflict resolution, participatory management, mutual understanding of professional roles, attention to professional independence, shared team goal-setting, an information circulation pattern in the care team, interprofessional coordination, consistency in implementing care procedures, and prevention of negligence and professional errors.