Neuman's framework and ventilator dependency: a pilot study.

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how the Neuman systems model guided a pilot study with ventilator-dependent patients. Mechanical ventilation was the external stressor to which these subjects reacted. The interaction of Neuman's client system variables was investigated to see which variables most influenced the weaning process. The pilot served to link model concepts with research variables and to identify appropriate procedures and tools for data collection.