Benchmarking of Emotional Intelligence in radiography students within KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa.

INTRODUCTION

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is an important skill within the various health care professions, and a higher level of EI is associated with better patient care, communication, empathy and teamwork. Within the Republic of South Africa, there is limited literature on EI within the health care sector, and specifically within radiography.

METHODS

The Trait EI Questionnaire Short Form (TEIQue-SF) was used to record the EI scores of 247 BHSc Radiography students in all four disciplines over the four years of study at the selected University of Technology (UoT) in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The TEIQue-SF yields a Global EI score and the four factors of EI.

RESULTS

The study benchmarked the TEI scores of the radiography cohort. The male participants scored significantly higher in Global EI (p = 0.020 and 0.029) and the Self-control factor (p = 0.000) of EI compared to the female participants. The younger participants scored significantly higher in three of the five factors of TEI, namely: Global EI (p = 0.003), Well-being (p = 0.003) and Self-control (p = 0.010), which was an unexpected finding and against the norm. Racially (0.010 and 0.009) and culturally (P = 0.022 and 0.026), the Black participants and the Zulu participants scored significantly higher in the Self-control factor of TEI.

CONCLUSION

This study benchmarked the TEI scores of radiography students within KZN and compared these TEI scores to the demographic variances of the students with interesting results. This study has highlighted the TEI level of the students at a selected UoT, which can be used to ensure that better prepared, well-rounded and employable graduates enter the workplace. This can be achieved by the implementation of the recommendations, which includes the levels of EI to be developed and relevant EI training required. Further research is required within the field of TEI and Radiography in the South African context to strengthen this study's findings.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

This study has highlighted the EI scores of a cohort of radiography students. The results of this study have made the institution more aware of the students' TEI which will allow the institution to ensure students are better prepared and are employable graduates within their chosen profession by including EI training within the health faculty curriculum.