Healthcare education equips professionals with clinical expertise, but research shows it often underdelivers in areas that shape patient experience the most—social skills, cultural competence, and emotional intelligence (also known as “EQ”). These “human connection” skills are particularly crucial when caring for older adults, who often face higher levels of social, cultural, and emotional vulnerability.

In many cases, healthcare workers gain these abilities slowly through years of experience. That’s valuable, but it means patients in the meantime may not get the relationship-centered care they need, and staff may burn out under the strain of figuring it out on their own. Evidence suggests that integrating these skills into onboarding and early professional education could change both workforce and patient outcomes for the better.

What the Research Shows

Studies consistently demonstrate the impact of social and emotional skill-building on healthcare teams and patient care:

  • Emotional intelligence reduces burnout – Healthcare workers with higher EQ experience significantly lower rates of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (China Study, 2022).
  • Training works – A meta-analysis found that structured EQ interventions in healthcare settings improved staff resilience and reduced turnover intention (EI Meta-Analysis, 2024).
  • Cultural competence improves care quality – Nurses with stronger cultural competence provide more accurate assessments, build stronger trust, and achieve better outcomes, especially with diverse and older populations (Perng & Watson, 2025).
  • Burnout impacts safety – Physician burnout more than doubles the odds of self-reported medical errors and diminishes patient trust (Burnout Impact Review, 2018).

Why Older Adults Need This the Most

Older patients bring unique stories, traditions, and perspectives to their care. Without cultural awareness, emotional sensitivity, and strong communication skills, their needs may be misunderstood—or missed entirely. Addressing isolation, respecting cultural identity, and creating a sense of emotional safety aren’t extras; they are part of quality care.

Benefits Beyond the Bedside

Investing in these skills early benefits everyone involved:

  • For patients: Greater trust, stronger relationships, and improved health outcomes.
  • For staff: Lower burnout, higher job satisfaction, and a deeper sense of meaning in their work.
  • For organizations: Better retention, fewer errors, and stronger teamwork.

The evidence is clear—healthcare workers who receive formal training in emotional intelligence and cultural competence deliver better care and experience more fulfilling careers. At Tellegacy, we believe these skills should be part of every new hire’s training, not something learned only after years in the field. By embedding them from the start, we create stronger teams, healthier patients, and a more connected healthcare experience for all.

References

Burnout Impact Review. (2018). Physician burnout and patient care outcomes. JAMA Internal Medicine.

China Study. (2022). Emotional intelligence, workplace violence, and job burnout among healthcare workers. Frontiers in Public Health.

EI Meta-Analysis. (2024). Effectiveness of emotional intelligence training interventions among healthcare workers: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology.

Perng, S.-J., & Watson, R. (2025). Cultural competence and healthcare quality among nurses. BMC Nursing.

Shaban, M., Abdelgawad, M. E., Elsayed, S., et al. (2025). Emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between technostress and burnout in critical care nurses. BMC Nursing, 24, 255.