Formation and improvement of clinical thinking in medical students. Кhaniukov O., Kozlov S., Yehudina Y., Sapozhnychenko L., Kozlova Yu., Somilo O. Introduction and purpose of the study: high requirements for graduates of higher medical establishments facilitate the search, implementation and improvement of modern teaching methods in order to optimize the development of clinical thinking in medical students. In the the course of the work, a big volume of information was used, which was worked out using such methods as historical and literary synthesis, structural and logical analysis, abstract thinking and personal experience taking into account the principles of systemic approach and analysis. To improve the quality of medical students' training it is necessary to use the innovative teaching methods. Presence of the personal clinical archive, with allow to use archival material in the training process (for example, to use case-method), in the analysis of a clinical case and the use of data in the scientific work. The article presents an example of a clinical problem and emphasizes the importance of the case-method in teaching students in higher educational institutions. Formation of clinical thinking takes place over the course of direct work with the patient, with an independent attempt to resolve a specific clinical situation in real conditions. Case method allows to reveal and form the necessary personal qualities and abilities of medical students, necessary for the further work. Modern methods and means of information technology must be purposefully implemented into clinical practice and educational process for the development of professional skills, formation of clinical thinking, accumulation of clinical experience.

The aim of the article is to provide a justification for the introduction of “research competency” concept and to describe the ways of its formation among students of higher medical institution, based on the experience of the Students' Scientific Society (SSS) work at the Department of Internal Medicine 3 of State Institution “Dnipropetrovsk Medical Academy of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”. The need to implement the research competency in the medical students training is substantiated in this article on the base of current legislation of Ukraine and today's requirements. A SSS work at a clinical department is analysed as one of the possible ways of the research competency acquisition, with the aspects that contributes to the development of the desired skills as well as those that may impede its mastery. Research work is a powerful impetus to the motivation to learn, as it directs students to scientific research. During working at SSS, students learn how to make a literary search, critically assimilate and assess of primary research literature and formulate a scientific problem, which require solution. At next step, they choose and apply the appropriate research methods that could be used in solving this problem. And finally, participants comprehend the statistics and process the obtained data followed by their scientific papers presentation in literary scientific sources or conferences. The work at SSS helps graduates be more competitive in today's job market as it brings up and cultivates professionally required qualities, including teamwork, ability to manage time and workload properly, an understanding of medical ethics and a range of communication skills. Currently, working in a SSS remains one of the best available options for introduction of the research competency in the training of the medical students, but it does not provide complete involvement of all undergraduate students, as required by the law of Ukraine.

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The beginning of the military aggression by the Russian Federation induced the suspension of education at all levels. Starting from March 14th, the training has continued in a remote format. But, although all educational institutions had the experience of distance learning, teaching during the war revealed its own features. During the war in Ukraine, health care facilities remain a military target, causing casualties among medical personnel. This, together with medical workers` abduction and migration, resulted in a shortage of medical staff. Under such conditions, the contribution of senior students and higher medical institution graduates was significant. Therefore, the continuation of medical education during the war is of great importance for an effective health care system functioning. The aim. Highlight the experience of distance learning organisation at the clinical department during the war and the problems were discovered during the class. Materials and methods. Classes were held daily with the mandatory synchronous and asynchronous parts, and the organisational component ensured their connection. The asynchronous component was organised by answering an extended clinical case, which included several theoretical questions and five mandatory tasks. To decrease the load for the teacher, the time limit for answering clinical case has been set, and a template of standard comments has been created. In addition, students were required to answer KROK2 tests. The synchronous component of distance learning was implemented using a Google Meet video conference, held daily according to a pre-approved schedule. In order to increase the level of student's communication skills, improve clinical thinking, as well as the practical application of the acquired knowledge, a "clinical" simulation was carried out during each video conference. Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, institutions of higher medical education had a well-established mechanism of the distance learning organisation. However, active hostilities on the territory of Ukraine led to additional obstacles. The lack of sufficient resources to meet the physiological needs limited the students' opportunities to study because, according to A. Maslow, the fulfilment of basic needs is important to an effective cognitive activity. The sound of air raid sirens required interrupting the online part and descending into a bomb shelter. A chronic shortage of basic needs realisation led to a disturbance of the emotional state and consequently hindered the effective processing and memorisation of the material. The absence of stable Internet and being in different time zones also interfered with efficient education. Students' participation in volunteer activities impeded their ability to engage in and concentrate on the educational process. Conclusions. Despite the sudden start of military aggression, institutions of higher medical education quickly switched to distance learning. As in the times of the COVID-19 lockdown, online education consisted of synchronous and asynchronous parts connected through the organisational component. However, active military operations and the constant threat of aerial attacks have created additional obstacles: security issues during the study, emotional state of students and teachers, problems with the Internet, power blackout, and being in different time zones. In addition, students` volunteer activities impeded full engagement in the learning process.