Haemato-oncology and burnout: an Italian survey.

This cross-sectional survey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of burnout and estimated psychiatric disorders among haemato-oncology healthcare professionals in Italy. The aspects of work that respondents perceive as stressful and satisfying have also been examined. The assessments were made using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), General Health Questionnaire and a study-specific questionnaire. Logistic regression models were applied to show associations between different sources of work-related stress and burnout. Three hundred and eighty-seven out of 440 (87.95%) returned their questionnaires. The scores on MBI subscales indicate a high level of emotional exhaustion in 32.2% of the physicians and 31.9% of the nurses; a high level of Depersonalisation in 29.8 and 23.6%, respectively; and a low level of personal accomplishment in 12.4 and 15.3% respectively. The estimated prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 36.4% in physicians and 28.8% in nurses. Statistical analysis confirmed age, sex, personal dissatisfaction, physical tiredness and working with demanding patients to be associated with burnout. In conclusion, haemato-oncology healthcare professionals report a level of burnout and estimated psychiatric morbidity comparable to other oncological areas. Knowledge of the mechanisms of burnout and preventing and dealing with them is therefore a fundamental requirement for the improvement of quality in health services and job satisfaction.

Idarubicin in combination with cytarabine and VP-16 in the treatment of post myelodysplastic syndrome acute myeloblastic leukemia (MDS-AML).

Fifteen patients with a primary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) transformed into acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) were treated with an intensive chemotherapy regimen containing idarubicin. A complete response (CR) was obtained in 10 patients (66.6%). In five of them this was achieved after a single course of chemotherapy. The median time to achieve a CR was 32 days (range 16-42). A partial remission (PR) was obtained in 2 patients after two induction courses of chemotherapy. One patient died during the first induction course following acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complication, whereas the chemotherapy regimen failed in 2 patients. A short interval between MDS and transformation into AML was associated with a better chance of achieving a CR. Age, karyotype, type of MDS, peripheral blood or bone marrow findings appeared to have no influence on the response to treatment. The median event free survival for patients who achieved CR was 15 months and the median actuarial survival 18 months. These preliminary results need to be confirmed in a multicentre prospective study comparing idarubicin with other anthracyclines.