{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T11:37:46Z","timestamp":1774611466467,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,7,7]],"date-time":"2022-07-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1657152000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Healthcare"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Hospital workers in Aruba have been facing an increased demand for healthcare in the unique setting of a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). This study assessed the impact of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the mental health of staff at the major hospital in Aruba, examining the differences between employee groups, with the goal of providing recommendations for targeted support and coping strategies in future crises in a small island setting. Patients and methods: In a mixed-method cohort design, Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital staff were asked to complete a 25-item questionnaire about their concerns and worries, organization of work, and general wellbeing; 24% of the hospital staff filled in the questionnaire (mean age 41 \u00b1 11 years, 79% female). Alongside the needs assessment questionnaire, six focus groups were established to explore staff feelings on specific measures taken by hospital management during the COVID-19 crisis. Results: Questionnaire analysis (n = 231) revealed employees\u2019 concerns about infecting their relatives and their financial stability. In particular, nurses were significantly more concerned than other staff groups. In the wellbeing section of the questionnaire, items regarding future security scored poorest, alongside increased levels of tiredness and nervousness. Focus groups discussions revealed frustrations of the hospital staff with the foreign staff brought in to help during the crisis and a need for better leadership and communication practices from hospital management. Conclusions: Comprehensive and holistic approaches should be implemented by the hospital management to prevent occupational burnout and demoralized work ethics and further emotional exhaustion.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare10071263","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,7,7]],"date-time":"2022-07-07T00:27:48Z","timestamp":1657153668000},"page":"1263","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Managing the Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals in Times of Crisis: The Aruban COVID-19 Experience"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0899-6776","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Veronika","family":"Duwel","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jaclyn M. L.","family":"de Kort","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Horacio E. Oduber Hospital, Oranjestad, Aruba"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shailing S.","family":"Jacobs","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Medicine, Horacio E. Oduber Hospital, Oranjestad, Aruba"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Robert M.","family":"Dennert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiology, Horacio E. Oduber Hospital, Oranjestad, Aruba"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8616-5564","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jamiu O.","family":"Busari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Paediatrics, Horacio Oduber Hospital, Oranjestad, Aruba"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,7,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1136\/leader-2020-000280","article-title":"Distributing systems level leadership to address the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"6","author":"Currie","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Lead."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"347","article-title":"Impact of viral epidemic outbreaks on mental health of healthcare workers: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"1","author":"Castro","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. 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