Modifiable factors influencing emotional intelligence among medical interns

Introduction

Emotional intelligence is crucial for medical professionals. Medical interns are expected to have a high degree of emotional intelligence to face their professional career challenges. Emotional intelligence, often measured as an emotional quotient (EQ), is the capacity to recognise and regulate emotion in oneself. It enables one to monitor one's own feelings and emotions and others; and guide decisions and actions, and is crucial to ensure a successful work-related outcome or good performance.¹ A medical intern, also known as a house officer or trainee doctor, is a junior doctor who has just completed medical school.² In Malaysia, medical graduates need to undergo an internship for at least 2 years at the Ministry of Health facilities before being able to register as a medical doctor; a period known to exert physical, mental, and emotional challenges. The potentially challenging period during the internship emphasises the importance of EQ among medical interns during this time.³ A higher EQ enhances physician and patient wellbeing, increases patient safety and augments healthcare teamwork.⁴ However, studies about EQ among medical interns are lacking. Therefore, this study intended to determine the level of EQ among medical interns and its associated factors.