Doctors' emotional intelligence and the patient-doctor relationship.
BACKGROUND
Current studies have found limited evidence for an association between doctor emotional intelligence (EI) and the patient-doctor relationship (PDR). This study explored the associations among doctor EI, patient trust and the PDR using multi-source and multi-level approaches.


METHODS
A total of 994 outpatients and 39 doctors representing 11 specialties were surveyed.


RESULTS
Doctors' self-rated EI was not significantly correlated with any variables rated by the patients. The nurse-rated PDR and the EI score for the doctor were positively associated with patient trust at a significant level.


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-sources for assessment of doctor EI may be more objective and predictive than doctor self-ratings in ascertaining the associations among patient trust, the PDR, and patient satisfaction. Emotional intelligence coaching for doctors and interdisciplinary collaboration among clinicians are needed to optimise the efficient and therapeutic function of the PDR for patients.
Weng
Hui-Ching
HC
Department of Health Management, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. weng@isu.edu.tw
Chen
Hung-Chi
HC
Chen
Han-Jung
HJ
Lu
Kang
K
Hung
Shin-Yuan
SY
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D035502:Trust