The importance of cultural studies teaching to medical students

Aim . Explaining the importance of the subject of cultural studies for medical students, to prove that this subject is a key decisive factor in social development. Materials and methods. The published works on this topic were studied and used as the scientific and methodological basis of the article. When considering and analyzing the works of scientists dealing with the problem of grouping studies, they were carried out on the basis of the historical-objective principle using methods: historical-objective, logical, systematic, comparative analysis, etc. Results and discussion . The relevance of education in teaching cultural studies in medical education is analyzed. The integrative nature of cultural studies expands the formation of cultural competencies in any field. In addition to purely educational tasks, cultural studies show a close ontological connection between medicine and culture. Medicine cannot be limited in its knowledge of man only to rational, logical aspects. A doctor is obliged to see and feel the emotional and spiritual side of a person, take into account its significance in the process of performing professional duties, and be able to influence them. Conclusions . Defining the interdisciplinary nature of cultural studies and the content of the subject of research, the authors pay attention to the interpretation of the term “culture” in the educational space of medical universities and consider the relationship between culture and medicine. Having identified the possibility of a union of culture and medicine, the authors were given the concept of “medical culture.” Medical culture is a complex and multifaceted sociocultural phenomenon, which reflects the health and quality of life of the individual and society as a whole, and the characteristics of human life. Considering the integrative nature of cultural studies, the authors point to its unique capabilities in the field of developing general cultural and professional competencies. As a result of the analysis, the position on the need for cultural knowledge in medical education is proven.