The emotional intelligence of surgical residents: a descriptive study.
BACKGROUND
We assessed educational needs with regard to leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence (EI) among surgical residents.


METHODS
General surgery residents (n = 74) were examined using the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and a 20-item survey.


RESULTS
Residents believed that leadership skills were important (mean 4.7, SD .5) and that they had skills in each the five EI areas (overall mean 4.1, SD .8). Both the overall group's EQ-i scores (mean 106.6, SD 11.6), as well as scores on the 20 components of the EQ-i (range of means 102-110), were higher than national norms. Individuals varied substantially on EQ-i subscale scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical residents believed that leadership skills are important and scored strongly on both an EI self-assessment and the EQ-i. Specific individual differences in subscale scores can potentially identify areas for direct educational intervention.
Jensen
Aaron R
AR
Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. arjensen@u.washington.edu
Wright
Andrew S
AS
Lance
Avalon R
AR
O'Brien
Kurt C
KC
Pratt
Charles D
CD
Anastakis
Dimitri J
DJ
Pellegrini
Carlos A
CA
Horvath
Karen D
KD
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male