Development of competences at the LUHS

Besikeičiantis požiūris į gydytojo profesiją sąlygoja gydytojų profesinio rengimo kaitą. Todėl, rengiant gydytojus, prioritetinėmis sritimis laikytina rengimo curriculum atnaujinimas ir tobulinimas. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti studentų požiūrį į probleminio mokymosi sistemos ypatumus. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad probleminio mokymosi rengimo sistema ugdo būsimiems gydytojams ypač reikalingas kompetencijas: problemų sprendimo įgūdžius, grupinį darbą, mokymosi tikslų formulavimo ir įgyvendinimo įgūdžius ir gebėjimą prisitaikyti prie naujų veiklos sąlygų.The shift in the activity of physicians is the priority field in the reformation of the Lithuanian primary healthcare system. This necessitates focusing on the improvement of the education and training of physicians. The importance of life-long learning and development is continuously increasing, and therefore the curriculum of medical studies should train the future physicians so that through life-long learning they can adapt to new changes in their professional activity. The implementation of the main principles of lifelong learning in the studies of medicine at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences is a challenge to the traditional system of studies. For this reason, when implementing the system of problem-based learning in the medium of the traditional features of the University, special attention should be paid to the solution of the competence development issues. The aim of the study was to identify and compare the peculiarities of the professional education and training of physicians in the traditional and the problem-based learning systems, and to analyze future specialists’ needs in ensuring their efficient and successful professional activity. The methods used in the study were analysis of scientific literature and documents, and an interview. The changing professional activity of physicians involves the solution of their patients’ problems through the integration of knowledge in biomedicine, psychology, sociology, and pedagogy, as well as abilities acquired on the basis of this knowledge. The system of problem-based learning is considered to be most appropriate for the aims of modern medical education. The analysis of the peculiarities of physicians’ education and training in the system of problembased learning showed that the learners acquired sufficient knowledge and skills for activity in the fields of qualification improvement, disease prevention, teamwork organization, and disease diagnostics and treatment. However, even though the lowest number of the learners acquired competences necessary for educational activity, the statistically significant difference between the groups showed that this is more characteristic of students of integrated studies. The study showed that the subjects acquired problem-solving skills, improved their skills in the systematization and analysis of knowledge, and also acquired skills in observation and data collection and analysis. However, the subjects of the study thought that the contents of the studies (the curriculum) was not important for the development of their personalities, and their studies were of little assistance in developing creative thinking and adapting to new conditions of activity