The European Hematology Association (EHA)

Young EHA

Burnout survey

The burnout survey closed on October 25, 2024.

Burnout in hematology

Burnout is, in broad terms, a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.

Studies involving healthcare professionals have shown that it can lead to:

  • Decreased empathy
  • Impaired judgment
  • Reduced patient satisfaction

In some circumstances, it's possible that this could contribute to:

  • Medical errors
  • Suboptimal care
  • Poorer patient outcomes

Hematologists, oncologists, nurses, laboratory technicians, and researchers, often work in high-pressure environments. The emotional toll of diagnosing and treating life-threatening diseases, as well as the pressure inherent in the research field, can be significant.

This means that burnout is a real risk for many types of hematology professional. However, there is a lack of published research on burnout in this group.

About the burnout survey

To address the lack of information on burnout in hematology, Young EHA and the Young National Society Ambassadors (YNSA) community have supported the development of an online survey. You can complete it now using the link above.

The survey is completely anonymous, and you will not be asked to share any information that could be used to identify you. EHA will receive an analysis of the survey results after the closing date.

Why we're sponsoring the survey

Young EHA is sponsoring the burnout survey to understand the extent and causes of burnout among hematology professionals in this high-stress field.

Insights from the survey can drive interventions that will:

  • Improve healthcare professionals' well-being
  • Enhance patient care
  • Boost organizational efficiency
  • Promote ongoing research and innovation

By sponsoring this survey, we aim to:

  • Improve the quality of care for patients with hematologic conditions
  • Support the health and satisfaction of its professionals

How symptoms will be assessed

Symptoms will be assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which measures burnout across three dimensions:

  • Emotional Exhaustion
  • Depersonalization
  • Personal Accomplishment

The Burnout Initiative

Sponsoring the survey is just one of the actions being taken by the Burnout Initiative, a joint project that involves members of the Young EHA and YNSA community.

Last year, as part of this project, a member of the Burnout Initiative published a Young EHA blogpost about burnout among healthcare professionals.

This year, the Burnout Initiative has taken further steps to increase awareness and assess the impact of burnout across the hematology community. In addition to the survey, this has included a webinar on burnout.

Burnout webinar

In May 2024, the Burnout Initiative organised a webinar on burnout entitled 'When caregivers become patients—talking about awareness.'

The aim of the event was to:

  • Raise awareness
  • Provide insights into the symptoms and impact of burnout
  • Give attendees information on how they can address burnout

The session was chaired by Elizabeth Macintyre, a past president of EHA, and it covered the following topics:

  • 'Identifying early signs of burnouts in a ward'—presented by Elie Azoulay
  • 'Addressing physician burnout'—presented by Tait Shanafelt

 You can watch a recording of the webinar below.