PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING AS A POTENT TOOL FOR PREPARING MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR THE UNIFIED STATE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Authors

  • M. S. Stupchuk State Establishment "Lugansk State Medical University" Author
  • I. O. Chebernina State Establishment "Lugansk State Medical University" Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32782/3083-7324/2026.3.6

Keywords:

problem-based learning, medical education, clinical pathomorphology, Krok-1, USQE, critical thinking, clinical reasoning

Abstract

Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the leading student-centered approaches in modern medical education, based on the principles of self-directed learning and clinical reasoning. The relevance of PBL implementation in Ukrainian medical universities is driven by the need to improve the quality of preparation for the Unified State Qualifying Examination (USQE) “Krok-1”, which is mandatory for third-year students of the Medicine programme. The aim of this review was to systematize and analyse available evidence on the effectiveness of PBL in medical education, particularly in the context of clinical pathomorphology. The review found that PBL promotes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving skills, clinical reasoning, and self-directed learning. At the same time implementation of the method requires appropriate faculty training and sufficient resource support. A promising direction is the integration of PBL with digital technologies in clinical pathomorphology teaching.

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Published

2026-10-06