The prevalence of imposter syndrome among young neurosurgeons and residents in neurosurgery: a multicentric study

• DOI: 10.3171/2022.4.focus2216
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01T10:58:06Z
• Authors: Ismail Zaed; Daniele Bongetta; Giuseppe Maria De...; Cesare Zoia; Teresa Somma; Matteo Zoli; Giovanni Raffa; Grazia Menna
• Keywords: burnout syndrome, imposter syndrome, imposterism, residency, Anxiety Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Neurosurgeons, Prevalence, Self Concept, Surveys and Questionnaires, Internship and Residency, Neurosurgery; Neurosurgery; Internship and Residency; imposter syndrome; Anxiety Disorders; Self Concept; burnout syndrome; imposter syndrome; imposterism; residency; 3. Good health; burnout syndrome; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Neurosurgeons; 0302 clinical medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; imposterism; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system; burnout syndrome; imposter syndrome; imposterism; residency; Anxiety Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Neurosurgeons; Prevalence; Self Concept; Surveys and Questionnaires; Internship and Residency; Neurosurgery; residency; RC346-429; 10. No inequality

OBJECTIVE Imposter syndrome (IS) 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 is one of the main causes of burnout among professionals, threatening their mental health and general well-being. The prevalence and severity of IS among neurosurgery residents and young neurosurgeons has not been yet studied. The primary outcomes of this study were the prevalence and severity of IS.

METHODS An anonymous cross-sectional survey including both a demographic questionnaire (Clance Imposter Phenomenon Survey) and compensatory mechanisms was distributed to young neurosurgeons and residents in neurosurgery in Italy.

RESULTS A total of 103 responses were collected. The prevalence rate was 81.6%. Among the respondents with IS, 42.7% showed moderate signs, 27.2% frequent, and only 11.7% had an intense symptomatology. Level of education, female sex, and academic achievements were all identified as predictive factors of IS.

CONCLUSIONS A total of 81.6% of respondents reported potentially significant levels. The implications of IS on both the outcomes in patients and the well-being of neurosurgeons should be evaluated in future studies.