BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a mainstay treatment in intensive care units (ICU). Studies have shown that applying algorithms to weaning procedure shortens the duration of MV. Whether weaning of patients by non-physician health care professionals (nurse, physiotherapist) improves or worsens outcomes remains an unresolved issue. The aim of the study was to evaluate studies comparing outcomes after weaning driven-by non-physician health professionals versus physicians. METHODS: Search engines of PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were searched using keywords 'mechanical ventilation', 'weaning', 'physician', 'non-physician', 'nurse', 'driven' without date limitation. 58 articles were identified during our initial literature search. We excluded duplicate articles selected different search engines, those not in English, without abstracts and not comparing studies weaning driven-by non-physician health professionals versus physicians. Finally, nine relevant studies were retrieved and included in the systematic review. RESULTS: Four of the studies were randomized controlled trials, another three studies were nonrandomized controlled trials and two were cohort studies. Seven of these studies concluded that weaning driven by non-physician health care professionals decreases the duration of MV provided they adhere to weaning protocols (p < 0.05). Other two studies showed no difference between the two groups. No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed in terms of hospital stay, reintubation, and mortality. CONCLUSION: During the weaning of patients from the MV, it was suggested to use protocols developed by a multidisciplinary team who considers differences between ICUs and individuality of the patients. This systematic review revealed the current evidence regarding weaning from mechanical ventilation driven by non-physician professionals versus physicians. It was founded that weaning from MV is more effective and reliable when it is adhered to a protocol developed according to the properties of patient population and intensive care than when it is drived according to experiences and personal differences.

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