Imposter Syndrome in Surgical Trainees: Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale Assessment in General Surgery Residents.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nImposter syndrome occurs when high-achieving individuals have a pervasive sense of self-doubt combined with fear of being exposed as a fraud despite objective measures of success. This threatens mental health and well-being. The prevalence and severity of imposter syndrome has not been studied amongst general surgery residents on a large scale. The primary outcome of this study was the prevalence and severity of imposter syndrome.\n\n\nSTUDY DESIGN\nThe Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale was administered to residents at six academic general surgery residency programs. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify significant differences amongst groups and predictive characteristics of imposter syndrome.\n\n\nRESULTS\n144 residents completed the assessment (response rate=46.6%; 47.2% male). Only 22.9% had none to mild or moderate imposter syndrome. A majority (76%) had significant or severe imposter syndrome. There were no significant differences in mean scores amongst male and female residents (p=0.69). White residents had an average score of 71.3 and non-whites 68.3 (p=.24). There was no significant difference between PGY years 1-5 or research residents (p=0.72). There were no significant differences based upon USMLE or ABSITE scores (p=0.18 and 0.37, respectively).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nImposter syndrome is prevalent amongst general surgery residents, with 76% of residents reporting either significant or severe imposter syndrome. There were no predictive characteristics based upon demographics or academic achievement, suggesting that there is something either inherent to those choosing general surgery training or the general surgery training culture that leads to such substantive levels of imposter syndrome.