Surgeon's imposter syndrome: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Medical Psychology
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Imposter syndrome (IS) is the experience of feeling like a fraud despite evidence of success.
• Surgeons, regardless of career stage, are susceptible to IS due to high-stakes decision-making.
• IS can lead to significant psychological distress and professional impairment in surgeons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on imposter syndrome in surgeons.
• To identify the prevalence, contributing factors, and consequences of IS among surgical professionals.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and ScienceDirect.
• Studies focusing on IS in surgeons were included, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Included articles underwent quality assessment (MERSQI) and evidence grading (GRADE).

Main Results:

• Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, involving trainees and consultant surgeons.
• Surgeons with IS are prone to mental and physical health challenges.
• Female surgeons report higher rates of IS compared to male surgeons.

Conclusions:

• Imposter syndrome is highly prevalent in the surgical community.
• Addressing IS requires developing strategies to differentiate reality from self-doubt.
• Interventions aimed at cognitive reframing can help mitigate feelings of inadequacy in surgeons.