Educational Intervention Impact On Nurses' Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Models: A Longitudinal Randomized Trial

Background: Emotional intelligence plays a critical role in nursing leadership, influencing organizational dynamics and patient care. However, there is limited understanding of the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership in Primary Health Care within the Greek context. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal experimental design was used to assess the effects of an educational intervention on emotional intelligence and leadership among Greek Primary Health Care nurses. Questionnaires, including the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, were administered pre- and post-intervention. Results: The results of the study revealed that, during the second measurement, the intervention group exhibited significant improvements in emotional intelligence, whilst adopting a more transformational style of leadership, compared to the control group. However, between the two measurements, no significant changes were observed in the transformational and transactional leadership models, with the exception of Management by Exception (Passive) and Laissez-Faire Leadership. However, in between the two measurements, no substantial changes in measurements were observed regarding the implementation of transformational or transactional models of leadership in neither of the groups. The only exception was the adoption of a Management by Exception (Passive) approach and that of a Laissez-Faire style of leadership. The tables highlighted nuanced changes in leadership dynamics, post-intervention. Conclusion: The empirical study supports that initiatives in education effectively enhance the emotional intelligence of nurses, while they also influence leadership styles. This suggests and highlights the need for tailored professional development programs in nursing education, in order to develop both the emotional intelligence and the leadership skills of those involved. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, registration reference: IRCT 20240126060816N1