title: Educating tomorrow's doctors: A cross sectional survey of emotional intelligence and empathy in medical students of Lahore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medical education in Pakistan traditionally emphasizes physician's biomedical knowledge with less emphasis on interpersonal skills and ability to relate to the patients. This study explored the emotional intelligence & empathy of undergraduate medical students and investigated its relationship with various factors to act as baseline for future work in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Schutte Emotional Intelligence scale and Davis' Interpersonal Reactivity Index in addition to socio demographic questionnaire were administered to first year and final year medical undergraduates of two medical Institutions in Lahore, Pakistan. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 17 version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean scores for medical students both on emotional intelligence and empathy is significantly lower than that found in previous literature, highlighting that medical students do not appear to fare better than average people in EQ. Women showed statistically significant higher scores on Appraisal of emotions , Regulation of emotions, Empathic concern Scale & Personal distress scale. Comparison of EI & IRI of students according to medical college year did not show any statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current medical curriculum and training in Pakistan does not appear to increase EI abilities which are building blocks that may allow students and residents to develop competence. Medical educators in Pakistan should look for ways to incorporate emotional intelligence in medical curriculum which will ultimately contribute towards patient centered practice, patient satisfaction as well as effective communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Nazish Imran, MBBS; MRCPsych (London), Associate Professor, Child & Family Psychiatry Department, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nazish
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imran
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Awais Aftab, MBBS, House Officer, Child & Family Psychiatry Department, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awais Aftab
authors.affiliation: Dr. Imran Ijaz Haider, MBBS; MRCPsych (London); DPM (England), Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry& Behavioral Sciences, Fatima Memorial College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan. Child & Family Psychiatry Department, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Imran Ijaz
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.affiliation: Dr. Anam Farhat, MBBS, House Officer, Child & Family Psychiatry Department, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Anam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farhat
keywords: Emotional Intelligence; Empathy; Gender; Medical undergraduates; Pakistan