Introduction Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to a set of abilities that enable individuals to recognize and understand emotions, regulate their own responses, maintain motivation, and effectively manage interpersonal interactions. EI plays a crucial role in a physician's daily practice. Higher EI has been linked to reduced burnout, stronger rapport with patients, improved communication skills, and other professional benefits. Methodology Using a cross-sectional observational design, 100 residents and physicians working at the University of Jordan Hospital in 2021 completed a questionnaire that included the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) to assess global EI and its subscales. Results The mean global trait EI was 4.89 ± 0.80. A significant association was found between EI and medical specialty (p = 0.015). Psychiatrists had the highest mean global trait EI, while general surgeons had the lowest. Higher global trait EI was also positively associated with being a specialist. In addition, global trait EI correlated positively with salary, age, and job satisfaction. Conclusions The study identified several factors that may influence physicians' EI levels. Specialty appears to be an important determinant of EI, whereas gender did not predict EI. Further research is needed to explain these findings and to contribute to a broader understanding of EI, both in general and within the context of the doctor-patient relationship.
Elheet et al. (2025) studied this question.