Emotional intelligence: The road to the development of professionalism

Wuttipat  Iammeechai; Tanapat  Prakairungtong

Authors

Wuttipat Iammeechai Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand and MGH Institute of Health Professions. Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Tanapat Prakairungtong Siriraj Health Science Education Excellence Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Keywords:

Emotional intelligence, medical professional development, medical professionalism, professional identity formation, professionalism

Abstract

The development of medical professionalism poses a considerable challenge in medical education, eventhough it is essential for medical practitioners. The dynamics and ambiguity of medical professionalism cause difficulty in setting specific learning objectives, creating validated assessment methods, and designing effective teaching methodologies. Meanwhile, emotional intelligence is an expanding area of study in medical education. There is a substantial connection between medical professionalism and emotional intelligence,and certain attributes of emotional intelligence contribute to the development of professionalism. Numerousreports have illustrated emotional intelligence development and assessment in health professions education,and thus, emotional intelligence is potentially a path to developing medical professionalism.

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