Enhancing emotional intelligence in the health care environment: an exploratory study

Emotional intelligence (EI), or knowledge of how emotions function in self and others, is a popular construct in both scientific and professional communities. Current theoretical models suggest that EI is a combination of dynamic skills that can be learned and enhanced through participation in targeted intervention programs. Although popular, few if any of the aforementioned interventions have been subjected to empirical scrutiny. Consistent with calls for efficacy studies of intervention programs, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effect of an adventure-based intervention on the EI of employees of a multisite dental practice. Fifteen individuals completed the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test before and after participation in a day-long intervention. Results suggest that the intervention had a small but positive effect on the participants' EI and that improvements in the 4 branches of EI varied within employee subgroups. Implications for future research and practical considerations for the health care environment are discussed.