Influence of emotional intelligence on patient-dentist relationships: A questionnaire development, validation and...

The Dentist-Patient relationship is a crucial component of successful dental care. Emotional intelligence (EI) has emerged as an important factor that can shape patient experiences and improve the quality of care. The present study was aimed to develop a questionnaire, validate the questionnaire, and assess how EI influences the dentist-patient relationship.

This study was conducted in four phases. First phase was a focus group discussion with preliminary questionnaire development. Phase II was validation of the preliminary questionnaire and phase III was a pilot study that assessed the internal consistency of the preliminary questionnaire. Phase IV was the survey conducted to assess the influence of EI on dentist-patient relationship using the final questionnaire. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 200 dentists in the month of September 2024.

The CVI and CVR of the final questionnaire was found to be > 0.8 with κ = 81 % suggestive of good intra-rater agreement. The internal consistency of the final questionnaire was good with Cronbach's α value > 0.7. More than 40 % of the participants had an opinion that emotional intelligence helps in making ethical decisions in dental practice. Also, 41.5 % of the dentists suggested for a formal training in emotional intelligence in dental schools.

By fostering trust, improving communication, and managing emotional challenges, dental professionals can enhance the quality of care and patient experiences. Implementing EI-focused modules into dental curricula can better prepare future dentists to manage the emotional and psychological aspects of patient care.