EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN PEDIATRICS AMONG FOREIGN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Abstract. Practical skills in pediatrics are critically important for training future physicians. Children require a specific approach, which includes unique diagnostic and treatment methods, as well as a high level of communication competence. At I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University (TNMU), a comprehensive training system is implemented for foreign students to develop clinical thinking and practical skills through simulation training and hands-on practice in pediatric departments. To analyze the effectiveness of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) conducted for foreign medical students and identify the most challenging aspects of practical skills acquisition. Descriptive analysis was applied in the initial stage of the study. To identify the pediatric skills that pose the greatest challenges for students, a retrospective analysis was conducted on the results of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The analysis included data from 3rd- to 5th-year medical students specializing in “Medicine”, with each examination including three pediatric stations. For 3rd-year students, the best performance was observed in patient interviewing skills (90% satisfactory) and assessment of newborn reflexes (70% satisfactory). However, heart auscultation posed difficulties for 60% of students. Among 4th- and 5th-year students, the poorest results were in interviewing patients with exanthema (96% unsatisfactory). At the same time, the interpretation of laboratory tests showed better outcomes, with 30.8% of students achieving excellent results. To enhance the training of foreign students, it is essential to strengthen the practical component of their education. Special attention should be given to developing skills in collecting patient complaints, taking medical histories in infectious diseases, and performing key aspects of the physical examination. Introducing additional simulation sessions and addressing challenging areas will help cultivate highly competent specialists in pediatrics.