Golden Age: Bond University introduces ‘emotional intelligence’ testing for prospective medical students

IT TAKES more than smarts to be an effective doctor, according to a top Gold Coast university professor. She reveals the newest hurdle prospective doctors will have to pass to secure a place in the already competitive field.

IT TAKES more than smarts to be an effective doctor, according to Bond University’s Dean of Medicine Kirsty Forrest.

This trimester, under Professor Forrest, Bond University on the Gold Coast became the first in Australia to introduce emotional intelligence (EI) testing as part of the selection process for its sought-after medical program.

The anaesthetist said she has seen how the ability to relate to patients can be key in treatment, and wanted to see those values instilled in the next generation.

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Saleha Khan, Professor Kirsty Forrest, Eileen Truong and Sebastien Chin

“I have seen after thirty years how people work hard to get where they are academically, but the way people interact hasn’t really changed, whether that is in a medical team or with a patient,” Professor Forrest said.

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Professor Forrest said she was concerned that medical programs are attracting people who think you only need academic intelligence to become a good doctor, and “that is simply not true”.

“Emotional intelligence plays such a critical role in a career in medicine. You need to be able to work in a team, to change behaviour, and to display kindness, consideration and empathy,” she said.

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“Instead of just selecting on academic ability we are looking further at the holistic care of the patient.”

As part of the Australian first selection process the May intake of 120 students were selected on both their both IQ as part of their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and EI.

The emotional intelligence testing was undertaken by an external Australian-owned organisation who specialise in the development and delivery of psychometric assessments.

“There were people who had the academic skills who didn’t proceed because of emotional intelligence testing,” Prof Forrest said.

“We also had people that wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get into the course because of the competition, make it because of their EI.

Doctors need emotional intelligence as well as academic intelligence.

“The result is a highly emotionally and academically intelligent cohort.

“We don’t know what the medical professional of the future will look like, but we should be as flexible and adaptable as possible to ensure our students can deal with the patients of tomorrow.”

Prof Forrest said she has already seen a change in new cohort, in the way interact and their ability to navigate limitations.

“Medical students have been competing their whole life through high school to get into a highly competitive degree, but when they start working they are expected to collaborate and be compassionate,” she said.

“To be compassionate to patients, colleagues need to learn to be compassionate to each other first.

“This is the change we are trying to drive.”

Teaching Fellow and Registered Clinical Psychologist Dr Amy Bannatyne. Pic by Luke Marsden.

Teaching Fellow and Registered Clinical Psychologist, Dr Amy Bannatyne, said the emotional learning will continue as part of the curriculum to ensure continued education in the space.

“When people hear about emotional intelligence they think we are talking about warm and fuzzy stuff.

“But really we are looking at how well an individual can recognise, understand, and manage emotions in themself and their patient, and how this information is used to guide their actions,” she said.

“Our message is that students need to work on developing their emotional intelligence in the same way they work on their academic performance, emphasising the fact that both IQ and EI are important to becoming a successful doctor.”