The relationship between spiritual and emotional intelligence and pain tolerance in orthopedic surgery patients in Baghdad, Iraq

Background: Postoperative orthopedic pain is challenging; inadequate control prolongs hospitalization and increases costs. The present study examined the relationship between spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence and pain tolerance. Methods: This cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted on ۱۷۰ orthopedic surgery patients at Baghdad Teaching Hospital in ۲۰۲۳. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the King’s Spiritual Intelligence Questionnaire, the Bar-On Emotional Quotient (EQ), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patients completed instruments two days post-surgery. Data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۳, employing Pearson correlation coefficients, independent-samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Among ۱۷۰ participants, the mean spiritual intelligence score was moderate (۷۱.۲۳±۸.۵۴), while emotional intelligence was low (۱۸۴.۲۵±۱۷.۳). Pain severity was high, with a mean score of ۶.۲۲ ± ۰.۷۳. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a strong negative association between spiritual intelligence (r = -۰.۶۲, p = ۰.۰۱۲) and emotional intelligence (r = -۰.۸۶, p = ۰.۰۱) and pain, with the relationship being stronger for emotional intelligence. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between the demographic variables of age (r = ۰.۸۴, p = ۰.۰۲) and the presence of comorbidity (t = ۰.۴۵, p = ۰.۰۳) with higher pain scores. Variables identified as determinants by the linear regression model included emotional intelligence (b=۰.۶۱, P<۰.۰۰۱), spiritual intelligence (b=۰.۹۸, P<۰.۰۰۱), age (b=۰.۱۷, P=۰.۰۲), and comorbidity (b=۰.۲۸, P=۰.۰۰۴). Conclusion: Spiritual and emotional intelligence reduce pain and improve tolerance, with stronger effects observed for emotional intelligence. Strengthening emotional intelligence among patients is essential. Nursing strategies should include training programs to enhance emotional intelligence skills, such as stress management and effective communication, to better equip patients in coping with pain.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pain tolerance ، Orthopedic procedures ، Emotional intelligence ، Spiritual intelligence