CURRENT STATE AND CHALLENGES OF POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION OF DOCTOR INTERNS IN CRISIS PERIODS

Abstract

During periods of crisis characterized by social, medical, and geopolitical upheavals, ensuring a high-quality, safe postgraduate educational environment combined with learner-centered instruction, has become a new challenge and a reality for adapting educational processes. This prompted the conduct of an analytical research study using the PHEEM (Postgraduate Hospital Education Environment Measure) methodology among medical interns specializing in “Internal Medicine” and “General Practice – Family Medicine”.

The aim of the study was to investigate the perception of autonomy, learning process, and social support among young professionals in the postgraduate medical education space during the COVID-19 pandemic and wartime periods. According to the surveyed medical interns, the organization of the work process is sufficiently high. 77.2 % and 83.2 % of respondents positively responded to statements regarding the procedures for appointment and appropriate workload during internship. Young professionals gave positive feedback (2.85 points) regarding the opportunity to acquire adequate skills in performing practical procedures. Interns from our department highly rated (3.09 points) the perception of teaching. The third component (social support) of the PHEEM study was assessed for the first time in history during wartime. In this component, 72.3 % of medical interns receive support from their teachers. However, 41.6 % of young professionals gave a negative assessment of their access to consultations in their career.

Thus, our results demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and self-regulation in the professional development of medical interns, as well as skills in interaction and responsible clinical decision-making in an era of serious social and geopolitical challenges.