Abstract: Objective: To develop the comfort experience scale for adult ICU patients with mechanical ventilation and test its reliability and validity to provide a basis for measuring the comfort status of mechanical ventilation patients in ICU in China. Methods: Based on the Kolcaba comfort theory model, the dimensions and item pool of the scale were constructed through literature review, qualitative integration, focus group discussion, and reference to previous scales. The initial scale was formed using the Delphi method and pre-investigation. From May 2022 to June 2024, 285 patients with mechanical ventilation in the ICU were finally selected by convenience sampling method for investigation to test the reliability and validity of the scale. Results: The final intensive care comfort experience scale for adult ICU patients with mechanical ventilation included 24 items, and four common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 67.185%. Cronbach's α coefficient of the total volume table was 0.943, the split-half reliability was 0.841, and the Content Validity Index of the entries and the Content Validity Index of the scale were both 1. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale had good structural validity. Conclusion: The comfort experience scale of adult ICU patients with mechanical ventilation is reliable and valid. It can evaluate the comfort status of mechanical ventilation patients in the ICU.

Key words: mechanical ventilation; critical care; scale; reliability; validity; nursing care