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Borges NJ, Stratton TD, Wagner PJ, et al. Emotional intelligence and medical specialty choice: findings from three empirical studies. Med Educ. 2009;43(6):565-72doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03371.x.
Borges, N. J., Stratton, T. D., Wagner, P. J., & Elam, C. L. (2009). Emotional intelligence and medical specialty choice: findings from three empirical studies. Medical education, 43(6), 565-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03371.x
Borges, Nicole J, et al. "Emotional intelligence and medical specialty choice: findings from three empirical studies." Medical education vol. 43,6 (2009): 565-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03371.x
Borges NJ, Stratton TD, Wagner PJ, Elam CL. Emotional intelligence and medical specialty choice: findings from three empirical studies. Med Educ. 2009 Jun;43(6):565-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03371.x. PMID: 19493181.
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Med Educ. 2009 Jun;43(6):565-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03371.x.

Emotional intelligence and medical specialty choice: findings from three empirical studies.

Medical education

Nicole J Borges, Terry D Stratton, Peggy J Wagner, Carol L Elam

Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435-0001, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 19493181 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03371.x

Abstract

CONTEXT: Despite only modest evidence linking personality-type variables to medical specialty choice, stereotypes involving empathy and 'emotional connectedness' persist, especially between primary care providers and surgeons or subspecialists. This paper examines emotional intelligence (EI) and specialty choice among students at three US medical schools.

METHODS: Results from three independent studies are presented. Study 1 used the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) administered to a single cohort of 84 Year 4 medical students. Study 2 used the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS) and Davis' Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) administered to three cohorts (n = 250) of Year 3 medical students. Study 3 used the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-I) administered to two cohorts of Year 1 medical students (n = 292). Results were linked to specialty choice data retrieved from the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). Classifications of specialty choice included: (i) primary care (family practice, internal medicine, paediatrics) versus non-primary care (all others), and (ii) primary care, hospital-based specialties (anaesthesiology, emergency medicine, pathology, radiology), and technical and surgical specialties (neurology, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, and all surgical fields).

CONCLUSIONS: Across all three studies - and using both classifications of specialty choice - no significant differences in EI were found between students entering primary care and non-primary care specialties. Limitations are acknowledged, and future directions for research involving EI are identified.

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