Identifying Key Characteristics in Aspiring Healthcare Professionals: A Strengths and Preference Profile Analysis on Emotional Intelligence

Identifying Key Characteristics in Aspiring Healthcare Professionals: A Strengths and Preference Profile Analysis on Emotional Intelligence

Alvin Sherman Library

Topic: As undergraduate students in a pre-health path or an advisor for these students, understanding one's priorities, strengths, and motivations is crucial for self-awareness and career clarity. This understanding is pivotal in guiding students toward a fulfilling and appropriate career choice. Purpose: Our study aims to identify the characteristics of students with the potential to excel as Optometrists - a profession known for its emphasis on patient care, attention to detail, and creative intuition. In our current investigation, we assessed 125 students aspiring to become Optometrists. Each participant completed a strengths inventory and a positive psychology-based personal preference test. According to the strengths inventory collected, an overwhelming majority related the most to Empathy and Responsibility. From the personal preference test, a significant percentage of these students identified as Emotional Helpers (66%). Goal: These results confirm that future optometrists have a natural inclination toward prioritizing emotional intelligence, which is a quintessential characteristic for impactful vision specialists.