Use of Online Educational Modules to Improve Occupational Therapy Students’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Their Emotional Intelligence Skills: An Evidence-Based Pilot Study

Abstract

Many current students studying in health care professions lack skills in communication, socialization, and decision-making that can lead to an inability to recognize and manage emotions, indicating a need for emotional intelligence training in university health field curricula. This article presents an evidence-based study that used a new approach to education using online emotional intelligence modules within a graduate occupational therapy program to supplement the program’s curriculum. The study was completed over six and one-half weeks and included 28 second-year graduate occupational therapy students. A pre/post-survey design was used to determine participants’ knowledge and their perceptions of their own emotional intelligence skills before and after the completion of six online educational modules and five reflective online activities. Students reported improved perceptions of their own emotional intelligence skills as well as increased knowledge of the key components of emotional intelligence after participation in the online education. The greatest perceived changes were reported in self-awareness (+14.1%) and social awareness (+12.2%), followed by relationship management (+10.0%) and self-management (+8.3%). Additionally, in response to open-ended questions, students identified the perceived benefits of improved emotional intelligence as leading to future success in the classroom and clinical fieldwork affiliations. The emotional intelligence modules and reflective online activities may provide a new approach to the delivery of emotional intelligence education, appealing to today’s students.