Imposter syndrome is growing increasingly prevalent among medical providers. And new evidence suggests the phenomenon extends to radiologists, potentially contributing to the specialty’s high burnout rate.
First publicized in the 1970s, imposter syndrome describes feelings of inadequacy related to a person’s inability to take in and internalize their success. Past studies have found a connection between the condition and feelings of stress, anxiety and depression, but a firm link has yet to be established, particularly among imaging professionals.
New data, however, found 83% of radiology faculty reported feelings of imposter syndrome during their career, with many suffering burnout symptoms, according to single-center findings published Tuesday in Clinical Imaging.
“Prior literature has demonstrated a high prevalence of imposter phenomenon amongst medical students, residents, and fellows,” Swati Deshmukh, MD, with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Department of Radiology, and co-authors explained. “Our study is the first to confirm occurrence of imposter phenomenon in radiologists, with a statistically significant correlation to burnout,” they added.
The conclusions are based on anonymous, online survey results taken from 30 participants working in a single academic health system. Of those who experienced imposter syndrome, 84% said it occurred when they were an attending, while 72% felt it during medical school, internships or residency.
Additionally, 47% suffered symptoms of burnout. And of the 22 respondents who felt imposter syndrome “sometimes, often or rarely,” 59% still suffered the effects of burnout.
With these results in mind, Deshmukh et al. piloted a grant-funded improv workshop to help radiology department members address issues related to their feelings. Twenty-one rads completed the one-hour class, which received an average feedback rating of 4.4 out of 5.
The group noted their findings are specific to their radiology department and only reflect a small sample of providers.
Deshmukh and co-authors suggest implementing formal mentoring programs and recognizing career milestones in order to address imposter syndrome.
Read the full study here (paywall).
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.