Exploring Emotional Control and Emotional Fortitude among Preclinical Undergraduate Medical Students: A Qualitative Study

Background: Although emotional intelligence is essential for medical students to succeed in their careers, it is overlooked in medical education. Objective: To explore the emotional control and emotional fortitude among preclinical undergraduate medical students. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study following constructivist approach was conducted from May-June 2023. The University Sains Malaysia Emotional Quotient Inventory Manual helped in constructing a semi-structured Google questionnaire to explore emotional control and emotional fortitude from second year medical students. Initially an inductive content analysis was utilized followed by thematic analysis approach provided by Braun and Clark to final themes. Results: Every student has a different way of regulating emotions. One of the participants said that his disruptive emotions are controlled by remembering Allah while the other disclosed that he just explodes in anger. A student said that she detaches herself from the closed ones when she is facing stressful situation whereas the other told that she likes to talk to loved ones. Most of the study participants were found mature enough to accept and learn from their mistakes, improve and progress in life. They were able to resolve tense situations and handle difficult people through grey rocking technique, empathy, and distancing from them. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of developing emotional intelligence in undergraduate medical students. Although emotional intelligence is essential for medical students to succeed in their careers, it is overlooked in medical education. We can help students to become more effective and compassionate physicians by incorporating emotional intelligence training into medical school curricula.