Practical classes for the foreign students at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery of Bogomolets National Medical University in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine

Abstract

In the conditions of the martial law and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the territory of Ukraine, the blended form of education turned out to be the only possible form of the educational process. The article highlighted the peculiarities of conducting practical classes in the discipline "Surgical dentistry" with foreign students at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Bogomolets National Medical University (NMU) in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine. For the implementation and adequate virtual distance lerning at the University, LIKAR_NMU education platform, Zoom, Google Meet, the university website, the NMU library website, Skype, Telegram, Viber messengers, e-mail were used. However, the biggest disadvantage of distance learning was the lack of opportunity to work with the patient and acquire practical skills. Foreign students who returned to Ukraine (or being in Ukraine) attended offline training, mastered practical skills on phantoms and dummies, were present at surgical operations in the clinic, independently performed anesthesia under the guidance of a teacher, removed teeth, assisted in operations on the maxillofacial area. Due to video conferences, distance learning students also had the opportunity, to see the operations, carried out in the Bogomolets Dental Medical Center, online, in real time. Thanks to the technical capabilities and educational Internet platforms, which are actively used during distance learning by students and teachers of the university, the initial process of obtaining a modern higher medical education, in particular surgical stomatology and maxillofacial surgery, continues and improves in wartime conditions