Peculiarities of the educational process in medical universities and colleges for students with post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the war in Ukraine

Abstract

The authors, based on numerous studies and their own results, showed that as of 2022, a third of university students have documented a wide range of negative consequences of traumatic exposure, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety problems, depressive symptoms and dissociation, memory impairment, increased absenteeism, and a decrease in grade point average. Students who have experienced PTSD have reduced social competence and are at increased risk of academic, social, and emotional problems. The authors, based on an analysis of open sources and their own experience, propose approaches to
optimizing the educational process for students with PTSD. The educational process for students with PTSD requires a trauma-informed approach, with an emphasis on creating a safe and predictable environment with strong teacher-student relationships, a clear daily routine and flexibility to address problems with attention, memory, emotional regulation and social skills, as well as adaptation. resilience, rather than relying on traditional punitive measures that can exacerbate symptoms. Key features include calming strategies - psychological support, specially designated spaces for rest and study, social-emotional learning, clear communication and collaboration with parents, student activists, and faculty-supervisors, aimed at supporting academic engagement and overall well-being. Nutritional support of the educational process is also of particular interest. PTSDbased learning strategies involve the use of trauma-informed learning in practice, requiring a transition from simple knowledge of trauma to the implementation of specific strategies to support students. Thus, working with traumatized youth in the educational process of medical universities and colleges requires, taking into account the professional characteristics of the teaching staff, the development of algorithms for providing primary psychological care and training teachers in this, as well as the organization of classroom and extracurricular organization of the educational process,
and the implementation of educational activities on food hygiene.