Search

Introduction. Given the ongoing war in Ukraine, innovative solutions are needed to ensure students’ access to quality education. This paper explores the benefits of applying a Learning Management System (LMS) at a medical university in Ukraine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of the implementation of the educational platform in the educational process of the second educational level (master's degree) in the specialty 221 Dentistry on the example of the educational component «Propedeutics of Internal Medicine». Materials and methods. Using Moodle, we developed a training course for an Introduction to Internal Medicine for dental students. The student population consisted of 54 2nd-year students and 77 3rd-year students. The student academic performance during the academic years 2021-22 and 2022-23 was analysed statistically. We also conducted a questionnaire-based survey to assess student satisfaction. Results. The study found that the end-of-module assessment scores in the 2nd year of study significantly increased in the 2022-23 academic year. A questionnaire survey found that most students were familiar with the subject, were satisfied with the forms and methods of teaching and considered that they had sufficient information and support to achieve the expected learning outcomes. Discussion. The use of the LMS helped control the negative impact of the war on education. The introduction of the LMS into the dentistry curriculum has ensured the quality of education, improved academic performance, and allowed for a more accurate assessment of student knowledge.

The article comprehensively reviews epidemiological indicators, risk factors, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, and contemporary management principles of metabolic syndrome in pediatric practice. The study relies on the extensive analysis of literature sources retrieved from electronic databases such as PubMed, UpToDate, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, MedLine, and Elsevier. The literature review highlights the escalating prevalence of metabolic syndrome as an urgent medical and social concern among children and adolescents, primarily attributed to the global epidemic of childhood obesity. The article not only outlines key findings but also presents recommendations from international medical societies concerning screening strategies, diagnostics, and therapeutic approaches for the individual components contributing to metabolic syndrome in childhood. The review also focuses on pivotal studies exploring alternative therapies targeting the principal pathogenic factors of the disease. In conclusion, the authors emphasize the pressing issue of the absence of standardized criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome in children, highlighting the imperative role of a multidisciplinary team of specialists in the effective management of this pathology in pediatric practice.

The article examines the methodological potential of video materials from the TED Talks resource (Technology Entertainment Design) in the context of teaching English for Professional Purposes and Academic English at medical higher education institutions. The TED Talks video materials cover not only topical issues of natural sciences but also modern problems of education, culture, history, business, sustainable development, etc., therefore, they can contribute to the development of both hard and soft skills of undergraduate and Ph.D. students majoring in Health Care and Biology. Short TED talks delivered by experts from various spheres can be used to develop public speaking skills, analytical listening, rhetorical text analysis, etc. The paper presents several linguodidactic mechanisms aimed at the development, practice, and systematization of the above skills to optimize students’ mastering of grammatical constructions and lexical material. The methodological algorithm is represented by receptive, reproductive, and productive types of exercises and can be used to improve communicative competence and English language proficiency, to organize the classroom and extracurricular activities, as well as a distance learning mode. The research may be of interest to teachers of English at medical universities, as well as specialists from other fields, in the process of planning training sessions and developing educational and methodological materials.

This paper analyzes the experience of introduction of distance learning in Ukraine, explores the efficiency of online learning in comparison with the classroom form of education, and identifies the role of motivation in the process of distance learning and the factors influencing the effectiveness of online learning. The aim of this research is to determine, theoretically substantiate and experimentally test the effectiveness of distance learning at a medical university. The authors analyzed the results of a survey of 315 medical and dental students of Poltava State Medical University at the second (Master's) and third (PhD) levels of higher education. Our research relies on the assertion that online learning influences not only the level of students’ motivation to continue their studies, but also the attitude toward their future profession. Therefore, upon receiving online training, students’ learning motives and perception of the attractiveness of the profession were used to measure the effectiveness of online mode of education. Distance learning aims to individualize the process of acquiring knowledge remotely using modern information and communication technologies. At the same time, it is necessary to monitor the learning outcomes and examine their dependence on the growing popularity of online learning in the world. We developed a questionnaire based on Donald Kirkpatrick’s model and applied the method of studying the attractiveness factors of the profession. 85.49% of respondents demonstrated their general impression of the organization of distance learning as positive (271 respondents). 74.13% of respondents were satisfied with the organization of distance learning at the university. To the question “How clearly do you understand how to apply the knowledge acquired through distance learning?” according to the scale from 1 to 5 (1 – not clear at all, 5 – very clear) respondents distributed their votes as follows – 1.58%, 7.26%, 29.97%, 43.53% and 17.66% respectively. The results of the survey on this issue correlate with the results of the test control conducted within the survey (r = 0.31). Experimental testing showed differences between the general impression of the organization of distance learning among students and the level of knowledge they acquired during distance learning. The level at which students determined the complexity of work during distance learning did not correlate with the results of test control of respondents (r=-0.04745, р=0.4028), and the age of respondents (r=0.1379, р=0.0242). The level of technical skills in working with software and web resources depended on the age of respondents (r=0.2432, р

The present paper explores the methods for effective mastering the past tense relying on an activity-based approach following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The aim of the research is to facilitate the teaching and revising the grammar material on the past simple (indefinite) tense, the past continuous (progressive) tense, and the past perfect tense in the process of training undergraduates, Ph.D. students, academic and clinical teachers at a medical university. The results of the research have been integrated into the 1st edition of “Medical English for Academic Purposes” (2018) and “Medical English for Public Health Purposes” (2021). The authors developed the methodological mechanisms to support courses in professional English at higher medical educational institutions through an activity-based approach, which ensures the effective acquisition of a foreign language, promotes the formation of a linguistic personality capable not only of communicating in all areas, but also of successful integration into the international community. The paper provides a wide range of scaffolding activities and methods: using visuals (graphic organizers, charts, etc.), selecting historically meaningful texts, peer-to-peer talk, strategic pairings, “real-life tasks” and modelling situations, the “fishbowl” model and others. The suggested methodological algorithm is feasible for both oral and written communication, reading and listening comprehension activities, group work, individual and self-directed work in class, as well as for in-class or self-paced learning, depending on the features of the curriculum and students’ English proficiency. The receptive aspect of teaching is represented by read-and-translate exercises, targeted texts describing significant events in the history of medicine, as well as true-false exercises to check students’ comprehension. Meanwhile, the reproductive aspect of teaching covers exercises involving opening the brackets, filling the blanks, as well as creating negative and interrogative forms of verbs. Eventually, the productive aspect of teaching is ensured by a wide range of creative speaking and writing activities and “real-life tasks”, aimed at developing students’ communicative competence in English for Professional Purposes (in-class speaking activities (peer-to-peer talk, class discussion). In addition, collecting family history is yet another pragmatically feasible task to revise and study past tenses. The application of an activity-based approach to teaching the past tenses at a medical university is highly effective to foster essential job-related skills, experience and professional readiness. The authors believe that this, in turn, will promote academic mobility and scientific cooperation, thus contributing to the development of higher medical education in Ukraine, which renders the research relevant.

The article is devoted to lectures as the oldest organizational form of education. It has been emphasized that interactivity is one of the main parameters that a modern lecture must comply with. The authors note that a quality lecture at a medical university (academy), prepared by a qualified research and teaching staff, is an extremely capacious pedagogical phenomenon that has a number of advantages, such as: lecture is an effective form of emotional impact on the future doctor, deontological education, formation of professional self-awareness and professional position, reflection and self-reflection; it serves as an important form of cooperation and provides direct creative communication of the lecturer with the audience; it allows to involve students in the latest advances in health care; it serves as an effective means of learning through personal example. Paying attention to the already traditional (in the historical context) question about the shortcomings of the lecture, the authors briefly consider the barriers of psychological and pedagogical nature, related to both the teacher and the students. It is shown that these barriers hinder the implementation of the main functions of the lecture and generate discussions about the form of lecture. Considerable attention is paid to the means of visualization of lecture material. The conclusions state that the modern academic lecture must meet a number of prerequisites, which are interrelated: proper psychological and pedagogical training of research and teaching staff; correspondence of their knowledge to the modern level of development of science; impeccable mastery of lecture material and audience; high-quality contingent of students who have a high level of motivation to study and the desire to obtain education, acquire knowledge, skills and abilities; high-quality visualization of lecture material.

The English language training of researchers and teaching staff at medical universities has become a priority task in higher medical education. Catenative verbs constitute one of the most challenging aspects in learning English as a second language. The article examines the features of catenative verbs while teaching the course in professional English for PhD students and academic staff at higher medical educational institutions. The aim of the study was to examine and systematize the most common challenges in using consecutive verbs in medical English. The authors developed their own concept of presenting the training material, and the proposed approach was tested in the development of the textbook “Medical English for Academic Purposes” (2018), which was written in the context of current trends in internationalised higher education, involving the training of specialists who will work in the modern English language educational and scientific environment. The ability to use catenative verbs correctly is an essential prerequisite of successful communication, intercultural reciprocal understanding and international cooperation in the context of rapid development of integration in Ukraine, which renders the present research relevant. A series of training exercises were presented, aimed at clarifying the lexical peculiarities of modern English. The most commonly used consecutive verbs, their significance and contextual role in professional communication have been analyzed. The proposed system of didactic materials is intended to support courses in professional English for PhD students and academic staff at higher medical educational institutions. The study of consecutive verbs is important to eliminate possible mistakes and avoid misunderstanding in medical communication. The authors believe that the professional development of PhDs and academic and clinical teachers of English-speaking medical students will promote academic mobility, scientific cooperation and the training of foreign students to international standards, and thus contribute to the development of higher medical education in Ukraine.

The article discusses the features of academic writing in English based on the recommendations from the British Council in Ukraine in the framework of the “Researcher Connect” project, aiming to facilitate the transition to academic standards of English and improve the academic discourse produced by non-native language users. The authors outline major tendencies in the modern English language as pertains to written discourse and provide recommendations for rendering academic writing persuasive. It is a well-established fact that academic writing in English possesses unique features, which must be respected and taken into account. Hence, a transfer of academic norms from a person's mother tongue to English can be a challenge, which may impair the quality of academic writing. Presenting the research results without consideration of academic norms, grammar, and lexical features of English academic writing can lead to mistakes and misunderstanding, and result in a written work of poor quality, even if the research findings are valid. The mechanisms of improving the academic writing skills during the study of English for Academic Communication with due account for relevant grammar and lexical peculiarities have been explored. Therefore, the major challenge for researchers is the difficulty in transition to academic standards of a foreign language. The article discusses the surface and the deeper purposes in any academic writing; the significance of understanding one’s audience; the concepts of persuasion, clarity, and conciseness, as well as grammar and lexical means for achieving them. Developing the communication skills of Ukrainian scientists is crucial for successful international communication and cooperation. The study of potential difficulties, which the Ukrainian medical professionals may face in the process of academic writing in English, is important for developing the guidelines to eliminate possible mistakes and avoid misunderstanding in a medical setting. Further study of the peculiarities of academic writing in English will contribute to the optimization of international professional communication, the expansion of inter-institutional dialogue, and the integration of Ukraine into the world community.

One of the most important issues in modern medicine is the search for methods for regulating programmed cell death in order to develop new approaches to treatment, including cancer and leukemia. Humoral regulation of theprocesses of apoptosis with the help of cytokines, hormones, growth factors, peptides plays an important role in the mechanisms of regulation of apoptosis. The effect of natural peptide complexes of thymus and kidneys on HPB-ALL (acute T-cell leukemia) and BJAB (Berkita lymphoma) cell apoptosis processes has been studied. It has been shown that the natural peptide complexes of the thymus and the kidneys have little stimulating effect on the apoptosis of BJAB tumor B cells at low concentrations, and when increasing the dose of peptides, they do not affect the processes of apoptosis; it is believed that the processes of elimination of transformed T-cells are enhanced by activating apoptosis processes in them. With the action of the natural peptide complex of thymus, this effect has a dose-dependent nature - increases with raising the dose.