The relationship between the quality of life of medical students and their academic performance

Abstract

Introduction. According to modern literature data, the quality of life of medical students is significantly lower than in the general population. Poor quality of life affects academic performance and can lead to rapid burnout. In this regard, an urgent problem is to study the practical significance of the impact of academic performance on the quality of life of students enrolled in medical universities, to improve their level of professional training. Materials and methods. With the help of the SF-36 questionnaire, 290 2nd year students of the pediatric faculty of the Medical University were examined. Students’ performance was assessed based on the results of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and an average examination grade for 1-3 semesters. All students are divided into three groups - best, mediocres and worst. Results. For successful students, a high level of emotional state did not interfere with the performance of daily activities. The total physical component of health was the highest among average students. Students with poor academic performance had a minimal total mental health component, which indicated that they had depressive states and bad mood. It was found that the deterioration of academic performance led to a violation of the performance of daily activities, a sharp limitation of social contacts and the level of communication. A high level of academic performance correlated with low vital activity, increasing fatigue and disadaptation. Limitations. This study is limited to a selection of students studying at medical universities and undergoing an assessment of the quality of education with the help of OSCE. Conclusion. The quality of life, health status and academic performance of students are interdependent indicators. The use of questionnaires will reveal the reasons for the decline in working capacity associated with the deterioration in the quality of life.