Imposter Phenomenon Among Students of Health Professional Education: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling of self-doubt and the fear of being exposed as fraud, even in the face of clear accomplishments. It can cause anxiety, burnout, and difficulty accepting success. However, it can be managed through increased self-awareness, seeking support, and challenging negative thought patterns. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency, severity and other characteristics of impostor phenomenon among students of different disciplines of health professional education. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1419 conveniently selected eligible students in different disciplines of health professions education at Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan during April to May 2020. Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) was administered through anonymous online google form. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 1419 students, 328, 818 and 272, were from MBBS, Doctor of Physiotherapy and Allied Health Sciences respectively and amongst them 60.6% were females. 43.8% of students showed moderate IP characteristics, out of these 59.06% were females. 42.28% students showed frequent IP experiences, out of these 62.66% were females. Intense IP was found among 8.38% students (68.06% females). Female students were having significantly higher IP scores than male students. MBBS students had significantly higher IP scores as compared to DPT or allied health sciences students. Conclusion: Imposter phenomenon was found to be significantly high among the MBBS students and in females. This has policy and practice implications.