[Risk factors for deliberate self-extubation]

This study was conducted to analyze intubation survival rates according to characteristics and to identify the risk factors affecting deliberate self-extubation.

Data were collected from patients' electronic medical reports from one hospital in B city. Participants were 450 patients with endotracheal intubation being treated in intensive care units. The collected data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation, Log rank test, and Cox's proportional hazards model.

Over 15 months thirty-two (7.1%) of the 450 intubation patients intentionally extubated themselves. The patients who had experienced high level of consciousness, agitation. use of sedative, application of restraints, and day and night shift had significantly lower intubation survival rates. Risk factors for deliberate self-extubation were age (60 years and over), unit (neurological intensive care), level of consciousness (higher), agitation, application of restraints, shift (night), and nurse-to-patient ratio (one nurse caring for two or more patients).

Appropriate use of sedative drugs, effective treatment to reduce agitation, sufficient nurse-to-patient ratio, and no restraints for patients should be the focus to diminish the number of deliberate self-extubations.