Emotional intelligence and selection to administrative chief residency.

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to determine whether emotional intelligence, as measured by the BarOn emotional quotient inventory (EQ-i), is associated with selection to administrative chief resident.

METHOD

Authors invited senior-year residents at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to participate in an observational cross-sectional study using the BarOn EQ-i. In October 2009 they sent an invitation e-mail to 66 senior residents, with a reminder e-mail 1 month later. The study was designed to detect a 15-point difference in EQ-i scores with 80% power.

RESULTS

Of the 66 invited residents, 69.6% participated in the study. Average total EQ-I score was 104.9. Among senior-year residents, there were no statistically significant differences in EQ-i scores between administrative chief residents (at 109) and non-administrative chief residents (at 103.2).

CONCLUSION

Administrative chief residents do not demonstrate higher Emotional Intelligence, as measured by the EQ-i, than other senior-year residents.