title: A pilot study assessing emotional intelligence training and communication skills with 3rd year medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether emotional intelligence (EI) developmental training workshops can lead to increases with the Bar-On Emotional Quotient (EQ-i) total scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot study with a quasi-randomised controlled design was employed with self-report assessments conducted at baseline and post-intervention following a 7-month training programme. Medical students based at a UK-based medical school participated in the study, and 36 volunteer students were recruited to the control group with 50 students randomly assigned to receive the intervention. A total of 34 (68%) students in the intervention group attended the first intervention training workshop, 17 (34%) attended the majority of the monthly development sessions and completed the post-intervention assessment. In the control group only one participant did not complete the follow-up assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group had significantly higher EQ-i change from baseline mean scores than the control group. The intervention group mean scores had increased across time, whilst the control group mean scores slightly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EI developmental training workshops had a positive effect on the medical students in the intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is warranted to determine whether EI can be a useful measure in medical training, and the concept and measurement of EI requires further development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. ian.fletcher@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leadbetter
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D004644:Emotions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011594:Psychometrics; D013337:Students, Medical