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stobbek@mcmaster.ca

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Monday, September 21, 2009

PBL Pearl Vol 2(#4): Emotional Intelligence and Choice of Specialty

We often assume certain personality types go along with certain specialties. When students are making choices, we may try to guide them into specialties that suit their personality. Is there really a “surgical personality”? A “type of person who would make a good family doctor”?

This paper looks at 3 independent studies of “emotional intelligence” in medical students and linked this to their choice of specialty. Emotional intelligence refers to empathy and emotional connectedness, and there exist a number of validated measurement tools.

Across all 3 studies, using different measurement tools, in different medical schools, and dividing specialty choice in different w ays (primary care vs. specialty and technical-surgical specialties vs. others) no significant differences were found in emotional intelligence between students and their choice of specialty.

Bottom line for me: I’ll stop using student personality as a factor in coaching them toward certain specialties.

Borges, Stratton, Wagner, Elam in Medical Education 2009; 43: 565-572.

Dr. Karl Stobbe

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