title: A multi-institutional study of the emotional intelligence of resident physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although emotional intelligence (EI) may have a role in the development of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, few studies have measured resident EI across specialties. This study aimed to describe the EI of resident physicians across multiple specialties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred twenty five surgery, pediatric, and pathology residents at 3 large academic institutions were invited to complete the psychometrically validated Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 42.8% (n = 139). Global EI of all residents (101.0 ± 8.1) was comparable with, but less variable than, the general population sample and was not statistically different between specialties. Compared with the norm sample, residents in the 3 specialty groups demonstrated unique combinations of areas of relative high and low development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There exist distinct strengths and opportunities for the development for surgery, pediatrics, and pathology residents. Future investigations could use EI profiling to create educational interventions to develop specific areas of EI and assess correlation with resident performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: skmckinley@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sophia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Emil R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Petrusa
authors.affiliation: ePsy Consultancy, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiedeldey-Van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Smink
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Scott-Vernaglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tara S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: W Stephen
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Black-Schaffer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phitayakorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: ACGME core competencies; Emotional intelligence; Graduate medical education; Surgical education; Surgical residency