{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T01:00:49Z","timestamp":1790902849813,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,8]],"date-time":"2023-08-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1691452800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":7,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Trauma Surg Acute Care Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,16]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their achievements and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud, even when there is little evidence to support these thought processes. It typically occurs among high performers who are unable to internalize and accept their success. This phenomenon is not recognized as an official mental health diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; however, mental health professionals recognize it as a form of intellectual self-doubt. It has been reported that imposter syndrome is predominant in the high-stakes and evaluative culture of medicine, where healthcare workers are frequently agonized by feelings of worthlessness and incompetence. Imposter syndrome can lead to a variety of negative effects. These can include difficulty concentrating, decreased confidence, burnout, anxiety, stress, depression, and feelings of inadequacy. This article will discuss the prevalence of imposter syndrome among surgeons, its associated contributing factors, the effects it can have, and potential strategies for managing it. The recommended strategies to address imposter syndrome are based on the authors\u2019 opinions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/tsaco-2022-001021","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,8]],"date-time":"2023-08-08T11:21:49Z","timestamp":1691493709000},"page":"e001021","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["Feeling like an imposter: are surgeons holding themselves back?"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2205-3061","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bellal","family":"Joseph","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2515-7744","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Esther S","family":"Tseng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burns, and Emergency General Surgery, Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martin D","family":"Zielinski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christine L","family":"Ramirez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery, St Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer","family":"Lynde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kelly M","family":"Galey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgery, Salem Health, Salem, Oregon, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sai Krishna","family":"Bhogadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Khaled","family":"El-Qawaqzeh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hamidreza","family":"Hosseinpour","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Beckman TJ , ed. The Imposter syndrome in physicians. In: Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Elsevier, 2022.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mayocp.2022.09.014"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shanafelt TD , Dyrbye LN , Sinsky C , Trockel M , Makowski MS , Tutty M , Wang H , Carlasare LE , West CP . Imposter phenomenon in us physicians relative to the us working population. Mayo Clinic Proceedings; 2022, doi:10.1016\/j.mayocp.2022.06.021","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mayocp.2022.06.021"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606-008-0536-x"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/h0086006"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327752jpa6503_6"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jamcollsurg.2021.07.681","article-title":"Imposter syndrome in surgical trainees: clance Imposter phenomenon scale assessment in general surgery residents","volume":"233","author":"Bhama","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Am Coll Surg"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2018.06.025","article-title":"Impostor phenomenon and burnout in general surgeons and general surgery residents","volume":"76","author":"Leach","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Surg Educ"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"758","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2022.2028751","article-title":"Impostorism and anxiety contribute to burnout among resident physicians","volume":"44","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lin E , Crijns TJ , Ring D , Jayakumar P . Imposter syndrome among surgeons is associated with intolerance of uncertainty and lower confidence in problem solving. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2022. doi:10.1097\/CORR.0000000000002390","DOI":"10.1097\/CORR.0000000000002390"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Medline A , Grissom H , Guiss\u00e9 NF , Kravets V , Hobson S , Samora JB , Schenker M . From self-efficacy to imposter syndrome: the intrapersonal traits of surgeons. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2022;6. doi:10.5435\/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00051","DOI":"10.5435\/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00051"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1007\/s00246-019-02276-z","article-title":"Fears and stressors of trainees starting fellowship in pediatric cardiology","volume":"41","author":"Brown","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr Cardiol"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3171\/2022.4.FOCUS2216","article-title":"The prevalence of imposter syndrome among young neurosurgeons and residents in neurosurgery: a multicentric study","volume":"53","author":"Zaed","year":"2022","journal-title":"Neurosurg Focus"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nj7587-555a"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1112","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjsurg.2021.11.003","article-title":"Transition from trainee to educator in the operating room: a needs assessment and framework to support junior faculty","volume":"223","author":"Lynch","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am J Surg"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0163278712458918"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2923.2010.03755.x"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjsurg.2022.02.056","article-title":"Underrepresented in medicine: making surgical training anti-racist","volume":"224","author":"Chao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am J Surg"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.5116\/ijme.5801.eac4","article-title":"Impostor syndrome and burnout among American medical students: a pilot study","volume":"7","author":"Villwock","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J Med Educ"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Swain W , Calac AJ , Neimeko CJ , Gasca L , Dodge Francis C . Understanding the experiences of American Indian and Alaska native students enrolled in allopathic and osteopathic medical degree programs. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 17, 2022. doi:10.1007\/s40615-022-01394-4","DOI":"10.1007\/s40615-022-01394-4"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1097\/JPA.0000000000000435","article-title":"Assessing harmful bias and celebrating strength through the narratives of black\/African American physician assistant students","volume":"33","author":"Bester","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Physician Assist Educ"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.21","article-title":"Coping with medical error: a systematic review of papers to assess the effects of involvement in medical errors on Healthcare professionals' psychological well-being","volume":"19","author":"Sirriyeh","year":"2010","journal-title":"Qual Saf Health Care"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.22","article-title":"A physician who feels hopeless and worthless and complains of pain","volume":"14","author":"Rapport","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr Psychiatr"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0159015","article-title":"Healthcare staff wellbeing, burnout, and patient safety: a systematic review","volume":"11","author":"Hall","year":"2016","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S32","DOI":"10.1097\/BPO.0000000000002088","article-title":"Building self-confidence and other skills: what surgeons can learn from other professions","volume":"42","author":"Blakemore","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pediatr Orthop"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1108\/JMP-12-2013-0409","article-title":"Examining the impostor phenomenon and work-family conflict","volume":"31","author":"Crawford","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Manag Psychol"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Whitman MV , Shanine KK . Revisiting the impostor phenomenon: how individuals cope with feelings of being in over their heads. In: The role of the economic crisis on occupational stress and well being. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2012. doi:10.5465\/AMBPP.2012.13246abstract","DOI":"10.5465\/AMBPP.2012.13246abstract"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.27","unstructured":"Rottinghaus PJ . Assessing career optimism and adaptability: toward the construct validation of the career futures inventory. Iowa State University, 2004."},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1016\/S0191-8869(98)00065-8","article-title":"Attributional and affective responses of impostors to academic success and failure outcomes","volume":"25","author":"Thompson","year":"1998","journal-title":"Pers Individ Differ"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2016.00048"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.30","first-page":"29","article-title":"Succession planning and the imposter phenomenon in higher education","volume":"59","author":"Parkman","year":"2008","journal-title":"CUPA-HR Journal"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000002046","article-title":"Rising to the level of your incompetence\u201d: what physicians\u2019 self-assessment of their performance reveals about the Imposter syndrome in medicine","volume":"93","author":"LaDonna","year":"2018","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1080\/20009666.2021.1877891","article-title":"Impostor syndrome in hospitalists- a cross-sectional study","volume":"11","author":"Paladugu","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1002\/job.2556","article-title":"Self\u2010compassion in organizations: a review and future research agenda","volume":"43","author":"Dodson","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Organ Behavior"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"West CP , Dyrbye LN , Satele DV , Shanafelt TD , eds. Colleagues meeting to promote and sustain satisfaction (COMPASS) groups for physician well-being: a randomized clinical trial. In: Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Elsevier, 2021.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mayocp.2021.02.028"},{"key":"2025081711041876000_8.1.e001021.35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"635","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000003998","article-title":"Professional stigma of mental health issues: physicians are both the cause and solution","volume":"96","author":"Brower","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acad Med"}],"container-title":["Trauma Surgery &amp; Acute Care Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/tsaco-2022-001021","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,17]],"date-time":"2025-08-17T18:04:34Z","timestamp":1755453874000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/tsaco.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/tsaco-2022-001021"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,8]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/tsaco-2022-001021"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/tsaco-2022-001021","relation":{},"ISSN":["2397-5776"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2397-5776","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]}}}