Lessons learned from virtual arts-based resilience workshops for military healthcare providers: a community case study.

Healthcare providers contended with unique work challenges during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting to rapidly changing circumstances with limited knowledge and resources. One military treatment facility responded to these challenges by leveraging available technology to implement Operation Oasis, a communally developed and peer-led virtual resiliency program for healthcare providers. This paper aims to: (1) discuss the design and implementation of Operation Oasis, and (2) conduct a thematic analysis of 404 participant chat messages that participants voluntarily and anonymously provided across 2 years of a weekly Operation Oasis music-based offering, Human Jukebox. Key findings of the thematic analysis included that the "Music Appreciation" theme was in 43% of coded messages, making it the most common theme; "Positivity," "Gratitude," "Reminiscence/Nostalgia/Relating to Music," and "Social Connectedness" comprised the remaining top five themes. Participants' comments suggested they had experiences of positive emotions, personal reflection, and interpersonal connection, all of which are recognized as contributors to resilience and well-being. This paper offers workshop facilitators' reflections and lessons learned on the process of creating and implementing Operation Oasis, as well as a discussion of the potential need and impact of supporting similar programs in the future.