Kateena Addae-Konadu1, Sonia Carlson2, Jessica Janes3, Kimberly Gecsi2, Alyssa B Stephenson-Famy4. 1. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Electronic address: kateena.addaekonadu@duke.edu. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. 3. Clinical Biostatistician, Institute for Medical Research at the Durham Veterans Affairs, Durham, North Carolina. 4. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Washington.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Individuals with Impostor Phenomenon (IP) believe they have achieved success by fooling others into thinking they are intelligent/capable and fear they will be discovered. This fear has been shown to cause psychological distress and may affect OB/GYN training. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IP and correlation with anxiety among OB/GYN trainees and faculty. DESIGN/ SETTING: An anonymous cross-sectional survey including a demographic questioner, Clance Impostor Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-items screening tool was distributed to 200 attendees at the 2019 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Meeting. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-nine medical students, 38 residents, 3 fellows, and 9 attendings completed the survey for a response rate of 72%. RESULTS: The average participant experienced frequent feelings of IP with the mean score of 65 ± 18. Nine (8%) experienced few feelings of IP, 27 (24%) had moderate IP feelings, 55 (50%) had frequent IP feelings, and 20 (18%) had intense IP feeling. There was no difference between IP score and trainee/faculty gender, race, or region of country. The degree of IP was significantly associated with level of medical training with more experienced physicians scoring lower than trainees (F = 6.07, p = 0.001). Finally, an association was found between anxiety and IP; individuals with a positive GAD-2 screen had significantly more feelings of IP compared to individuals with a negative GAD-2 screen (t = 4/79, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that IP is likely prevalent among OB/GYN trainees and correlate with anxiety. Further discussion is needed regarding the impact of IP on medical education training and career advancement in the field of OB/GYN and other surgical specialties.
OBJECTIVE: Individuals with Impostor Phenomenon (IP) believe they have achieved success by fooling others into thinking they are intelligent/capable and fear they will be discovered. This fear has been shown to cause psychological distress and may affect OB/GYN training. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IP and correlation with anxiety among OB/GYN trainees and faculty. DESIGN/ SETTING: An anonymous cross-sectional survey including a demographic questioner, Clance Impostor Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-items screening tool was distributed to 200 attendees at the 2019 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Meeting. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-nine medical students, 38 residents, 3 fellows, and 9 attendings completed the survey for a response rate of 72%. RESULTS: The average participant experienced frequent feelings of IP with the mean score of 65 ± 18. Nine (8%) experienced few feelings of IP, 27 (24%) had moderate IP feelings, 55 (50%) had frequent IP feelings, and 20 (18%) had intense IP feeling. There was no difference between IP score and trainee/faculty gender, race, or region of country. The degree of IP was significantly associated with level of medical training with more experienced physicians scoring lower than trainees (F = 6.07, p = 0.001). Finally, an association was found between anxiety and IP; individuals with a positive GAD-2 screen had significantly more feelings of IP compared to individuals with a negative GAD-2 screen (t = 4/79, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that IP is likely prevalent among OB/GYN trainees and correlate with anxiety. Further discussion is needed regarding the impact of IP on medical education training and career advancement in the field of OB/GYN and other surgical specialties.