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Associations between emotional intelligence and doctor burnout, job satisfaction and patient satisfaction
Author(s) -
Weng HuiChing,
Hung ChaoMing,
Liu YiTien,
Cheng YuJen,
Yen ChengYo,
Chang ChiChang,
Huang ChihKun
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.03985.x
Subject(s) - burnout , job satisfaction , emotional intelligence , psychology , emotional exhaustion , clinical psychology , applied psychology , social psychology
Medical Education 2011: 45 : 835–842CONTEXT The occupational health literature has long been dominated by stress‐related topics. A more contemporary perspective suggests using a positive approach in the form of a health model focused on what is right with people, such as feelings of well‐being and satisfaction. OBJECTIVES Using a positive perspective and multi‐source data collection, this study investigated the inter‐relationships among emotional intelligence (EI), patient satisfaction, doctor burnout and job satisfaction. METHODS In this observational study, 110 internists and 2872 out‐patients were surveyed in face‐to‐face interviews. RESULTS Higher self‐rated EI was significantly associated with less burnout (p < 0.001) and higher job satisfaction (p < 0.001). Higher patient satisfaction was correlated with less burnout (p < 0.01). Less burnout was found to be associated with higher job satisfaction (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study identified EI as a factor in understanding doctors’ work‐related issues. Given the multi‐dimensional nature of EI, refinement of the definition of EI and the construct validity of EI as rated by others require further examination.