Impostor Phenomenon and Cognitive Complaints in Anesthesiologists

This prospective observational cross-sectional survey study aims to investigate the relationship between impostor phenomenon and cognitive complaints in anesthesiologists, and to evaluate the role of potential confounding factors such as sleep quality, workload, anxiety, depression, and burnout in this relationship.

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Key information

Conditions

Impostor Phenomenon Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Burnout, Professional Burnout, Psychological Cognitive Complaints Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Occupational Diseases Occupational Stress Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Wake Disorders Stress, Psychological imposter syndrome

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Türkiye

Bursa, 16310, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Anesthesiologists are required to make rapid decisions demanding high situational awareness for patient safety and clinical risk management. The Impostor Phenomenon (IP), frequently encountered among healthcare professionals, is defined as perceiving oneself as inadequate despite proven achievements, with persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. While existing literature has detailed the association of IP with mood symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and burnout, its effect on cognitive complaints has not been sufficiently examined. This study will assess IP using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), cognitive complaints using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and sleep quality and workload using single-item subjective scales. Data will be collected anonymously via an online self-administered structured questionnaire from anesthesiologists actively working in clinical practice.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Aged 18 years or older Actively working as an anesthesiologist (resident, specialist, or academic staff) Provided written informed consent Completed the survey in full

Exclusion criteria

Not actively working in clinical practice Refused to provide informed consent Submitted an incomplete survey

Treatment and study plan

Self-Administered Questionnaire

Other

A structured online self-administered questionnaire including the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and single-item scales for sleep quality and workload.

Primary outcomes

Relationship Between Impostor Phenomenon and Cognitive Complaints

Time frame: At the time of survey completion, up to 1 month

Statistical association between the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) total score and the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) total score among anesthesiologists.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Fusun Gozen

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Impostor Phenomenon and Cognitive Complaints in Anesthesiologists: A Neglected Risk for Patient Safety

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jun 15, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed