RELATIONSHIP OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS WITH ANNUAL EXAM SCORE IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Objectives: To assess relationship between emotional intelligence and annual exam score in undergraduate medical students, and to determine demographic predictors of annual exam score in undergraduate medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical College, Baqai Medical University, Karachi from December, 2024 to August, 2025. Students of second to final year MBBS were included in the study. Data were collected by means of a study questionnaire that contained questions on demographic characteristics, Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale and percentage obtained in the previous examination. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 21.

Results: The mean age of the students was 22.39±1.57 years, 129 (53.5%) of them were male, 75 (31.1%) of the students were in 2nd year MBBS whereas 101 (41.9%) were in 3rd year MBBS while their mean passing percentage in the last examination was 68.24±9.31. The emotional intelligence of students was not found to be significantly correlated with their annual exam score. Moreover, multivariable analysis showed that gender of student (Male: B=0.058, 95%CI 0.024-0.092, p=0.001) and education of father (Intermediate or less: B=0.098, 95%CI 0.016-0.180, p=0.019) were significant predictors of their annual exam score.

Conclusion: It was concluded that though the emotional intelligence of students was not significantly correlated with their annual exam score, certain demographic characteristics were indeed significant predictors of their annual exam score.