Exploring Emotional Intelligence and Thinking Style in Saudi Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Emotional Intelligence (EI) and style of thinking (Rational style, RS and Experiential style, ES) are stable constructs that could be used to highlight how we think and behave, which is extremely important, especially in the healthcare sector, as it is complex and human-dependent. This study explored the EI and style of thinking of Saudi residents together with demographic data to see how they could relate and the implications of this on residents and patient safety. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Methods: A sample (of 245) with different specialty backgrounds was used. Participants completed an online self-report survey, which included demographic information, followed by questionnaires to measure their thinking style and emotional Intelligence. Results: The main findings were a positive and significant correlation between RS and EI: rs = .482, n = 245, p p p = .006, and a significant relationship between error rate and EI: U = 5619.000, z = -3.387, p < .001. Conclusion: Medical Organizations could benefit from assessing their healthcare workers’ EI and thinking style to understand their differences and behaviors toward healthier workers and better patient care outcomes.