Features of Clinical Thinking Formation during the lessons of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine

In the article the features of the formation of clinical thinking of third year students of Ivano-Frankivsk Medical University during the study of the subject “Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases” are described. The basic prerequisite for successful formation of clinical thinking in students is stated in the article. An important prerequisite for the successful studying of the students is performing of practical skills during each class. Propaedeutics of internal diseases acquaint students with current objective, laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient, the technique of their performance and the diagnostic significance of the results. However, recognition of the disease is not enough. It is also needed to be able to combine data received during the inspection, group them in connection with the cause, identify their relationship and make the conclusion which is the diagnosis. The combination of such logical consistency is the basis of so-called clinical thinking, which requires a large amount of knowledge, good memory, observation, curiosity, persistence and of course experience. Thus, the discipline “Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases” is the first step for students of medical university in clinical thinking formation. Basing on the learning of the theory, visual examples, communication with patients and the performance of practical skills a student forms basics of clinical thinking, which gets improved during following courses.