Recalibrating Self-Assessment: Navigating Imposter Syndrome Through Metacognitive Reflection.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cognitive Psychology
• Physician Professional Development

Background:

• Accurate self-assessment is crucial for lifelong learning and patient safety.
• Learners often struggle with self-assessment, especially during professional transitions.
• High-performing physicians may also face challenges in self-assessment accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore metacognitive strategies used by high-performing physicians.
• To understand how physicians maintain or recalibrate self-assessment accuracy.
• To investigate the role of imposter syndrome in self-assessment.

Main Methods:

• Purposeful sampling of former chief residents (high-performing physicians).
• Semistructured interviews exploring self-assessment, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt.
• Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• All 10 participants recalibrated self-assessments using metacognitive reflection, feedback, and emotional awareness.
• Metacognitive reflection and a growth mindset helped confront imposter syndrome.
• Participants advised moderation in adopting a growth mindset to avoid overcorrection.

Conclusions:

• High performers can overcome imposter syndrome through metacognitive reflection and emotional awareness.
• Fostering self-assessment skills enhances professional development and well-being.
• An excessive growth mindset focus can be counterproductive, creating self-doubt cycles.