Self-Rated Quality of Life of Foreign Medical Students Getting Education in the Chuvash Republic

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, about 3,000 foreign students study at I.N. Ulyanov Chuvash State University. Globalization of education involves Russian universities into a common global educational space and makes higher education more accessible to foreigners. However, moving to another country creates a stress problem, which affects the quality of life and health of migrant students. Objective: To study the quality of life of Indian medical students receiving education in the Chuvash Republic. Materials and methods: A continuous sample of Indian first and fifth year students of the Medical Faculty was examined in June 2023, out of examination sessions. For a subjective assessment of the quality of life, the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL–BREF) was used. Results: We observed no significant differences in satisfaction with physical and psychological well-being among the first and fifth year students. The calculated indicator was 66.2 % (95 % CI: 63.5–68.9) for the first-year students and 66.7 % (95 % CI: 59.5–73.9) for the fifth-year students. Statistical differences were established in the analysis of answers concerning self-perception: the level of satisfaction was 66.3 % (95 % CI: 63.2–69.4) vs 47 % (95 % CI: 41.0–49.0) respectively, in the groups of first- and fifth-year students. The final indicator of satisfaction with the sphere of microsocial support was 62.5 % (95 % CI: 58.7–66.3) among the first–year and 61.5 % (95 % CI: 54.0–69.0) among the fifth-year students. Satisfaction with the sphere of social well-being was 63.0 % (95 % CI: 60.1–65.9) and 65.1 % (95 % CI: 58.0–72.2) in the groups of first- and fifth-year students, respectively. Conclusions: Self-rated quality of life of the first-year medical students is poorer than that of the fifth-year students, which is mainly attributed to low satisfaction with social well-being factors.