Abstract
Introduction: In contemporary healthcare environments, clinical competence and emotional intelligence (EI) are recognized as indispensable professional attributes, each exerting a marked influence on the quality of care and patient satisfaction. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the association between EI and clinical competence among medical students at Fasa University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 medical interns at Fasa University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a structured three-part questionnaire consisting of a demographic form, the Bradberry-Greaves EI Questionnaire (Baradberry -Greaves 2009), and the Leo Clinical Competence Assessment Questionnaire (2007). Finally, the data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and the chi-square test.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 25.2±3.46 years. In addition, the mean scores for clinical competence and EI were 134.7±28.2 and 106.4±13.9, respectively, indicating a moderate level of clinical competence and a high level of EI. Clinical competence was significantly associated with marital status and students’ interest in their field of study (P=0.03). Similarly, EI was substantially related to marital status (P=0.01) and academic interest (P=0.02).
Conclusion: Medical students demonstrated moderate clinical competence alongside relatively high EI, underscoring the need for educational planners and healthcare policymakers to develop targeted strategies to sustain and enhance students’ engagement with their chosen field.