(1270) Exploring Imposter Phenomenon and Professional Identity Among Student Pharmacists

Objectives: High achieving individuals who attribute accomplishments to chance or luck and struggle to accept their success may have some degree of imposter phenomenon (IP). Published research has included healthcare professionals in medicine, nursing, dentistry and veterinary sciences. Pharmacy has limited IP research pertaining to students; previous studies concluded faculty/student pharmacists have feelings of IP. One study has evaluated the relationship between professional identity and professional goals. This study expands upon IP research to evaluate if an IP score impacts student pharmacists’ feeling of professional identity before completing their advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE).

Methods: Exempt status was granted by the Institutional Review Board. With the validated Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale, IP was evaluated in 2 cohorts of PharmD candidates at a midwestern, private college. The Clance IP scale ranges from 20, low feeling of IP, to 100, demonstrating high feelings. The IP scale was electronically sent for a two-week period in April 2022 and 2023. The overall response rate was 82%. The Macleod Clark Professional Identity Scale (MCPIS-9) scale was utilized. The MCPIS-9 is a 9-question Likert scale to help understand students' feeling of professional identity. Data were analyzed with SPSSx v28 using descriptive and inferential statistics. The primary outcome variable was the effect of professional identity on postgraduate plans prior to APPEs. All students were placed in groups based on post graduation plans and an ANOVA was utilized to evaluate mean MCPIS-9 scores between the two classes. A secondary variable was the potential influence of IP on professional identity and postgraduate plans. Post-ad hoc analysis was completed to determine how IP may influence students' professional goals. The investigators hypothesized students who plan on pursuing a residency would have a higher feeling of professional identity and a higher IP score.

Results: Of the 215 students, 83 students plan on entering the workforce, 124 plan to pursue residency, and eight plan on completing a fellowship or postgraduate degree. The sample was composed of 147 females, 66 males, and two non-binary students with 95% aged 22-25. There was no statistically significant difference in mean IP score between the two classes. The class of 2023 had a mean score of 63.57 and 2024 class had a mean score of 63.08. The ANOVA post-hoc analysis of the MCPIS-9 was statistically significant with a two-sided p value ( < 0.001) within four areas. The results were: “I am often ashamed to admit that I am studying for this profession”, “I find myself making excuses to belonging to this profession”, “I try to hide that I am studying to be a part of this profession”, “I can identify positively with members of this profession”. Two questions were statistically significant when comparing IP scores in the post-hoc analysis between the three groups for professional goals. Those responses are as follows: “I can identify positively with members of this profession” (p= 0.023) and “I have often succeeded on a test or task even though I was afraid that I would not do well before I undertook the task” (p= 0.042).

Conclusions: The study findings indicate postgraduate plans are not impacted by IP scores, but there appears to be a relationship between IP scores and their impact on students’ professional identity. These data are limited to two classes at one college of pharmacy. More research is needed at other colleges of pharmacy within the same graduating class to provide additional data on IP and professional identity. It is important to know that IP scores do not limit a student’s professional growth nor their pursuit of their ideal career.