Development and Preliminary Validation of an Emotional Intelligence Training Program for Nurses in Madinah Hospitals, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is central to nurses’ emotional awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and interpersonal functioning, yet structured EI development remains underrepresented in continuing professional development in Saudi hospitals. Objective: To develop and validate an EI training module tailored to nurses working in Madinah hospitals. Methods: A context-specific module was developed from the five-competency framework underpinning the thesis and refined through expert review and a 22-nurse pilot conducted outside the main trial sample. The finalized module comprised 11 experiential modules delivered over four weeks using lectures, discussion, case studies, role-play, simulation, reflection, and pre-/post-training checks. Its implementation was examined in a randomized controlled trial involving 120 nurses from Al Haram and Al Salam Hospitals, with 60 nurses allocated to the intervention and 60 to usual training. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, one week, and three weeks after the intervention using the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale, nursing-performance measures, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Results: Five nursing and healthcare-management experts reviewed the module for clarity, cultural appropriateness, and relevance. Pilot testing supported feasibility, comprehensibility, and acceptable internal consistency of the study instruments (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.70). In the main trial, intervention-group EI increased from 71.12% at baseline to 84.50% and 84.67% at one and three weeks, respectively; nursing performance increased from 70.83% to 83.80% and 84.12%; and work engagement increased from 70.74% to 84.72% and 85.93%. Between-group comparisons at each assessment were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The module demonstrated preliminary content and feasibility validity and was associated with substantial, short-term sustained improvements in EI-related outcomes among nurses in Madinah hospitals. Longer follow-up and multisite psychometric evaluation are warranted.