Emotional Intelligence Among the Medical Teachers; An Institutional Based Study

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to assessing the emotional intelligence traits among the medical teachers at a private teaching hospital and medical college. Emotional Intelligence can act as protective factor against anxiety, tension, interpersonal communication, association with patients and provide better learning environment to medical students.

Methodology: A cross sectional co-relational study was designed at the Abwa Medical College, Faisalabad from March 5, 2024, to August 5 ,2024 using the convenient sampling technique. Only those with more than 2 years teaching experience were included in the study and others were excluded from the study. Senior teachers are those Associate Professor and Professors, while lecturers and Assistant Professors are junior teachers. A validated questionnaire “Leadership Toolkit Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire” was utilized to collect data. The participants were handed over a proforma and data collected was analyzed in SPSS 26 using the Chi square and Pearson correlational analysis.

Results: A total of 64 junior and senior medical teachers participated in the study. 36 (56.3%) were male and 28 (43.8%) females. 38(59.4%) belonged to basic medical science while 26 (40.6%) were from the clinical faculty. The overall mean value of emotional intelligence was reported to be 187.37 ± 23.04. The subsets of emotional intelligence were compared between gender, faculty and their positions. The social skill subset was reported to be statistically significant between the junior faculty (39.55 ± 5.02) and senior faculty (36.26 ± 5.99) with a P value of 0.020. The Pearson correlational matrix also indicated a significant relationship between the subsets of emotional intelligence among medical teachers.

Conclusion: Emotional intelligence is one of the key traits of medical teachers which yields professionalism, innovation and creativity. Emotional Intelligence is an important protecting factor that can act against anxiety, tension, interpersonal communication, association with patients and provide better learning environment to medical students.