Emotional intelligence and clinical skills: Preliminary results from a comprehensive clinical performance examination

Background: The recognition of emotional states in one's self and others, emotional intelligence (EI) may play a key role in patient care. This study examines the relationship between EI and students' clinical skills in a required, comprehensive performance examination (CPX). Method: Prior to taking a 12-station CPX, third-year students in 2003 and 2004 (n = 165) completed the Trait Meta-Mood Scale and Davis' Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Dimensional subscales were computed and correlated with selected aspects of students' clinical skills as recorded by standardized patients in each objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)-type encounter. Results: The internal consistencies (α) of subtests ranged from .73-.90. Attention to Feelings, Empathic Concern, and Perspective Taking were significantly (p = ≤ .05) positively correlated with communication skills, while the latter two were also significantly negatively associated with physical examination skills. Conclusions: Various aspects of EI are modestly implicated in students' clinical skills as assessed by standardized patients in an OSCE.