Role of emotional intelligence in job performance of healthcare providers working in public sector hospitals of Pakistan

Objective. To determine the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and job performance (JP) of health care providers (HCPs). Methods. Healthcare professionals from various hospitals were chosen for a crosssectional study. The survey was conducted using a three-part questionnaire including the demographic profile, Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence (EI) Scale, and an individual work performance (JP) questionnaire. The relationship of predictor variables on JP was sought by applying Chi-square test and multiple regression analysis. Results. About 43.3% of the 50.8% of participants who scored well on the EI scale also scored high on the JP scales. The remaining 7.5% had an unsatisfactory JP. From the 22.8% of respondents who also scored low on EI scales, about 20% scored low on the JP scale. Significant relationship between EI and JP was found at a p-level of 0.05 (2 tailed). Emotional intelligence (B=0.57, p-<0.05) positively predicted job performance whereas difficulties faced while performing job (B=-0.81, p= <.005), beds under supervision (B=0.09, p=<0.05), dual practice (B=-0.04, p=<0.05) and weekly off days (B=0.04, p<0.05) have no significant effect on job performance. Conclusions. Subjects with high EI on the WLEIS were good at their jobs and scored well on the IWPQ scale, implying that as an individual's EI rises, so will his or her JP.