Does Emotional Intelligence Affect Residency Selection?

Samer Abu-Sultaneh, MD

Department of Pediatrics

Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Marshall University, Huntington, WV

Background• Emotional intelligence (EI) has been

used in many fields to predict success.

• Some studies suggested the

relationship between EI and patient

satisfaction1, empathy2 and

communication skills3.1. Wagner PJ, Moseley GC, Grant MM, Gore JR, Owens C. Physicians' emotional intelligence and patient satisfaction.

Family Medicine 2002 Nov-Dec;34(10):750-4.

2. Kliszcz J, Nowicka-Sauer K, Trzeciak B, Nowak P, Sadowska A. Empathy in health care providers--validation study of the Polish version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. Adv Med Sci. 2006;51:219-25.

3. Stratton TD, Elam CL, Murphy-Spencer AE, Quinlivan SL. Emotional intelligence and clinical skills: preliminary results from a comprehensive clinical performance examination. Acad Med. 2005 Oct;80(10 Suppl):S34-7.

Objective• Evaluate the effect of emotional

intelligence of fourth year medical

students on residency selection.

Methods• Online survey using Schutte Emotional

Intelligence Scale (SEIS) was sent to

fourth year medical students.

• Students asked to indicate the age,

gender, USMLE 1 score, USMLE 2 CK

score and their residency selection.

Methods Cont.

• Emotional Quotient (EQ) was calculated

based on their responses to the 33 questions

of SEIS (scores ranges between 33 and 165).

• EQ was compared between groups using

multivariate regression analysis, with p value

<0.05 considered as statistically significant.

Results• 29 students completed the survey;

62.1% males and 37.9% females.

EQ by Gender

EQ by Age

EQ by USMLE 1 Score

EQ by USMLE 2 CK Score

EQ by Specialty

* 1 Anasthesia, 1 Neurosurgery

Conclusion

• Emotional intelligence is an

interesting new concept in medical

education.

• More studies are needed to explore

its effect on medical students'

specialty selection.