Family medicine internship in ukraine: a qualitative study of interns’ experiences and expectations

Kramarchuk, V.V. (2025) Family medicine internship in ukraine: a qualitative study of interns’ experiences and expectations. Перспективи та інновації науки. Серія "Педагогика". Серія "Психологія". Серія "Медицина" (8(54)). pp. 1926-1933. ISSN 2786-4952

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Abstract

After several years of reforming primary health care in Ukraine, family medicine has become a key component of the national health system, with more than 30 million patients having already chosen family doctors as their primary medical coordinators. The quality of care provided at this level directly depends on the training of young professionals, for whom the internship is a critical stage in the transition from academic education to independent clinical practice. In the context of workforce shortages, increasing workloads, and complex socio-economic challenges, the competency-based approach to training – which combines the development of clinical skills, communication abilities, and professional values – has become particularly significant. The aim of this study was to analyse the experiences and expectations of secondyear interns specialising in “General Practice – Family Medicine” following their certification, with a focus on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the current training model. The material for the qualitative content analysis comprised open-ended responses from interns, collected through anonymous surveys. The use of double independent coding and discussion of results within a focus group of lecturers ensured both the reliability and depth of the analysis. The findings demonstrate high appreciation of interactive teaching methods, including group discussions, role-playing, work with clinical cases, and the use of the teach-back method, which enables the effective integration of “hard” clinical skills with “soft” communication skills. At the same time, several factors hindering the effectiveness of the internship were identified: insufficient engagement of mentors, a limited number of specialists in the relevant field, gaps in legal training, the involvement of interns in routine administrative tasks, and shortcomings in the organisation of the certification process. These observations highlight the need to revise the educational model of the internship, with a greater emphasis on practiceoriented training, the development of mentorship, enhancement of legal competence, and the creation of conditions that will contribute to the harmonisation of Ukrainian postgraduate medical education with European standards.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	DOI: 10.52058/2786-4952-2025-8(54)-1926-1933
Uncontrolled Keywords:	internship, family medicine, competency-based approach, feedback, mentorship, postgraduate education, communication skills, practical training, legal competence, skills assessment; інтернатура, сімейна медицина, компетентнісний підхід, зворотний зв’язок, менторство, післядипломна освіта, комунікативні навички, практична підготовка, правова компетентність, оцінювання навичок
Subjects:	Family Medicine
Divisions:	Departments > Department of Internal Medicine
Depositing User:	Аліна Чеботарьова
Date Deposited:	22 Sep 2025 09:24
Last Modified:	22 Sep 2025 09:38
URI:	http://repo.dma.dp.ua/id/eprint/9603

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