Perceptions of postoutbreak management by management and healthcare workers of a Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak in a tertiary care hospital: a qualitative study

Al Knawy, Bandar Abdulmohsen; Al-Kadri, Hanan M F; Elbarbary, Mahmoud; Arabi, Yaseen; Balkhy, Hanan H; Clark, Alex

Throughout the interviews, participants described the outbreak as being a period of severe and sustained "tension", "doubts", "challenges", "fear", and "anger". Although visits, communications and collaborations from external regulatory agencies (such as the Saudi Ministry of Health, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention "CDC" and the World Health Organization "WHO"), were perceived to be useful, these also added additional stresses and responsibilities amidst the pressurized situation. As an extremely "High-demand situation", hospital decision-makers had to implement immediate major operational decisions to control the outbreak. The implemented steps were escalated to near-closure of this large institution. The serious impact of the crisis on patient care and on the organization's reputation encouraged all HCWs and decision-makers to exert their maximum effort and experience to assist in its management. The high level of stress experienced by HCWs was exacerbated by the "hard and uncertain progress" to whether and how the situation would improve. "Teamwork and collaborative management" were encouraged, and despite the stressful situation, institution decision-makers and frontline HCWs showed a strong sense of reliability and responsibility.