Program development study focusing on emotional intelligence skills of nursing students: randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Psychology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Emotional intelligence is vital for effective nursing care.
• This study addresses the need for structured emotional intelligence development in nursing students.
• It leverages established models like Demirel's Program Development Model and the Bar-On EQ Model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an emotional intelligence training program for nursing students.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in enhancing emotional intelligence.
• To determine the program's suitability for integration into nursing curricula.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 250 first-year nursing students.
• Participants were assigned to experimental, placebo, or control groups.
• Emotional intelligence was measured using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) over an 8-week intervention period, with blinding and placebo controls employed.

Main Results:

• The experimental group showed a statistically significant increase in emotional intelligence scores post-intervention (p < 0.001, d = 1.2).
• Post-training scores were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to placebo and control groups.
• The program led to an approximate 13.7% increase in overall emotional intelligence.

Conclusions:

• The developed emotional intelligence training program is effective in enhancing emotional intelligence in nursing students.
• The program demonstrates potential for successful implementation within nursing educational frameworks.
• Findings support the integration of such programs to improve nursing student competency.