Foreign Medical Students Research Articles

Why foreign medical students seek abroad elective experience in Japan: The German case

Why foreign medical students seek abroad elective experience in Japan: The German case

Simulation Training of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Foreign Medical Students and its Impact on the State of the Cardiovascular System

The article presents the results of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for foreign students studying in English. Participants are divided into three groups depending on the theoretical preparation for the lesson. All students were tested on the platform of the European Council for Resuscitation. During training blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. The study showed high effectiveness of training and revealed a tendency to increase the studied parameters of hemodynamics at the first stages of training.

SCIENTIFIC AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF FORMING FOREIGN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ READINESS TO OVERCOME COMMUNICATION BARRIERS IN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

The academic paper is devoted to studying scientific and methodological principles ensuring effective training of foreign medical students to overcome communication barriers in professional communication. It has been revealed that readiness for professional communication is a component of the professional readiness of future healthcare professionals. Three interrelated levels of communicative interaction at which professional communication of foreign medical students takes place are identified: linguistic, paralinguistic, and non-verbal. It is noted that the communication of foreign students of medical specialties is characterized by the presence of linguistic, ethnic and discursive communication barriers. It has been determined that the primary objective of instructing foreign medical students to surmount communication barriers within professional discourse is to cultivate their requisite preparedness. The author’s definition of the readiness of foreign students of medical specialties to overcome communication barriers in professional communication as a complex personal and professional phenomenon, which is determined by their individual psychological characteristics and peculiarities of their professional activity, is given. It is substantiated that the readiness of foreign students of medical specialties to overcome communication barriers in professional communication is the result of their professional training and professional development. The motivational, cognitive, operational, and reflective components of the structure of foreign medical students' readiness to surmount communication barriers are delineated. The major components of educational and methodological support aimed at forming students’ readiness to overcome communication barriers in communication are identified, namely: orientation of language training towards the purposeful formation of readiness to overcome communication barriers and ensuring its continuity at all stages of education; formation of a system of foreign medical students’ professional-communicative social-perceptual qualities, which form the basis of relevant professional skills; establishment of an enriched communication environment in a medical higher education institution.

The prevalence and dynamics of the test anxiety in foreign students before and within COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine

Test anxiety (TA) is a psychological condition of a person’s distress before, during, or after a test or other assessment. The prevalence and dynamics of TA before and after COVID-19 pandemic in foreign graduate medical students in Bukovinian State Medical University (Ukraine) was investigated. After receiving informed consent 6 year foreign students: 234 on the eve of COVID-19 pandemic and 74 students in spring 2023 anonymously filled in the TA questionnaire (Sarason I.G., 1980), total points ≥ 12 signified presence of TA. The average level of TA before COVID-19 pandemic was 6,3±2,8 points, while later in 2023 it increased significantly to 8,0±3,8 points, p<0,01. In 2023 more than 70% of students answered that they “feel very panicky when they have to take a surprise exam” and more than 30% of graduates when taking tests, find that “their emotional feelings interfere with their performance”. More than 48% of students answered, that they “find themselves thinking of the consequences of failing during test”. Physical manifestations of TA included positive answer for the question “I sometimes feel my heart beating very fast during important examinations” in 74% of students and in 38% of cases students struggle with excessive perspiration. Around 30% of students “usually get depressed” or deal with any gastrointestinal problems after important tests. Totally in 2023 34% of examined students demonstrated borderline or present TA as compared to 15% before (p<0,02). Thus, TA causing somatic and/or psychological distress is present in every third medical foreign student and has significantly increased within COVID-19 pandemic period in Ukraine, that’s why it deserves more attention.

The interaction between stress and sleep disorders among foreign medical students in Georgia

ObjectivesThis study aimed to: a. Investigate daytime sleepiness, stress, and pre-sleep arousal prevalence among foreign medical students in Georgia. b. Explore gender-based associations between sleep and stress parameters. MethodsMental health was assessed in 207 foreign medical students in Georgia using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS), and Student-Life Stress Inventory (SLSI). ResultsMost participants reported elevated stress levels and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). EDS affected 25.1% of students, with slightly higher prevalence in males. PSAS was prevalent in 97.1% of students. Stress was widely reported, with 78% experiencing it, with a higher prevalence in females.Significant correlations were observed between sleepiness and arousal, including somatic (r = 0.41) and total scores (r = 0.28). Sleepiness was also linked to stressors like pressure, changes, self-imposed stress, and overall self-evaluation stress (r = 0.45). Strong correlations existed between ESS, Total PSAS, and overall self-evaluation SLSI scores for both genders.Gender differences were observed in the associations with Cohen's d within the small to moderate size. Men showed significant associations between ESS and stressors: conflict, pressure, chances, all stress reaction categories, and total SLSI scores (p < 0.001). In women, ESS correlated significantly only with overall self-evaluation (p < 0.001). Excessive daytime sleepiness, especially with somatic and total PSAS, predicted total SLSI scores for the entire sample and both genders, with stronger predictive values for total PSAS. ConclusionThe study reveals a high prevalence of clinical sleepiness and its significant correlation with pre-sleep arousal and stress among foreign medical students, with females experiencing more difficulties than males.

Serological Evaluation for Measles among Italian and Foreign Medical Students in a University Hospital in Rome.

Measles infection in the hospital setting is a major issue. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, measles outbreaks continue to occur in some European countries. We aimed to evaluate the immunological status of medical students attending the Tor Vergata Polyclinic (PTV). Measles antibodies titers were assessed by venipuncture on a sample of 2717 medical students who underwent annual health surveillance visits from January 2021 to March 2023. Subjects showing serum IgG values above 1.0 S/CO were considered serologically protected. Personal data, country of origin, and main demographic characteristic were also collected. 66.7% (1467 Italian and 346 foreign) of medical students showed protective IgG antibodies levels. Female students were serologically immune more frequently than males (68.6% vs. 63.3%; p < 0.01 at Chi2). The mean antibody titer was 1.72 S/CO, significantly higher in females than males (1.67 vs. 1.75, respectively; p < 0.05), and significantly related to age (p < 0.01). Albanian students, who were the largest foreign population in our study, showed a low serological protection rate (40/90: 44.4%). The proportion of serologically non-immune students is high, raising concerns about the possible risk of hospital transmission. Substantial differences in the rate of immunity have been found between subjects coming from different parts of Europe and the world. Pre-training assessment of all medical students and vaccination of susceptible individuals is highly recommended, particularly for those from low immunization rate countries.

LEARNING THE UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE BY FOREIGN MEDICAL STUDENTS

The article focuses on the issue of learning Ukrainian as a foreign language by students of higher educational institutions and medical students. The textbooks and manuals used by foreign medical students in learning Ukrainian as a foreign language are described. The important methodological techniques in the study of Ukrainian for foreign students are characterized. The functional approach to selecting and presenting language material is highlighted. The focus is placed on the practical aspect of language learning, specifically on the application of Ukrainian as a foreign language in both professional settings and everyday life. The motivation of medical students is of great importance when learning Ukrainian. In order to achieve results in teaching Ukrainian as a foreign language, it is necessary to take into account not only traditional teaching principles and methods (explanatory-illustrative, reproductive, problem-based, partial-exploratory, research), but also innovative (interactive methods, use of modern technical teaching aids, extracurricular situational and thematic language learning, inclusive method, method of cultural and mass activity) which enhance the learning process and the level of students’ knowledge. Internet technologies facilitate students to independently process and study new materials and enable them to have control over knowledge acquisition (online). Simultaneously, these technologies provide teachers with access and editing capabilities of database questions, defining task selection criteria, reviewing database registration forms, and administering these databases. Key words: Ukrainian as a foreign language, learning Ukrainian by foreign medical students, motivation of foreign students, methodology of teaching Ukrainian as a foreign language, methodological techniques for learning Ukrainian as a foreign language.

P04 Assessment of antibiotic resistance formation predictors among medical students in developing countries

Abstract Background According to CDC (2019), antibiotic-resistant infections affect more than 2 million people. By 2030, 100 million people will die prematurely as a result of uncontrolled antibiotic use, and in 35 years, this figure will reach 300 million (BSAC, 2018). Despite of modern patient target approach to curing majority of diseases, the problem of antibiotics over usage is still urgent in middle-income countries due to non-profile prescription, absence of microbiological confirmation and the ease of availability of antibiotics. Objectives To investigate antibiotic usage expedience for a 1-year duration among Ukrainian and foreign medical students. Subjects and methods A total of 150 (Ukrainians 46%, foreigners 54%; aged 18–25 years) medical students were examined by questionnaire for antibiotic usage during last year with specification of reasons, course frequency and duration, expediency of appointment, treatment outcomes, possible reason for cancellation/replacement of antibiotic therapy and preventable usage cases. Results The majority of foreigners [60.5% (n = 49)] and 33.8% (n = 25) Ukrainians used antibiotics for different reasons during February 2022–January 2023 (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Antibiotic usage by physician’s prescription was held among 24.49% (n = 12) foreign students and 68.18% (n = 12) Ukrainian ones (P &amp;lt; 0.05). The frequency of antibiotic application due to positive result of bacteriological investigation was significantly lower among foreign responders: 27.27% versus 4.00% in Ukrainians (P &amp;lt; 0.05). In the Ukrainian students sample 36.3% (n = 8) responders predisposed to antibiotic usage for infectious condition appearance [versus 6.1% (n = 3) in the foreign sample, P &amp;lt; 0.01]. The frequency of ≥3 antibiotic courses per year prevailed in the foreign student group [12.25% (n = 6), P &amp;lt; 0.05]. The analysis of post-antibiotic adverse events found out allergic reaction in 1.2% (n = 1) in the foreign sample, diarrhoea 1.56% (n = 1) and change of antibiotic due to ineffectiveness 1.56% (n = 1) in the Ukrainian sample. Conclusions Possible predictors of the formation of resistance to antibiotics among young people living in developing countries, such as incorrect clinical use, lack of control over the prescription of antibiotics, ease of availability of antibiotics and as a result of self-medication, were evaluated. The prophylactic prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics for routine procedures, such as preparation for surgical interventions and in the postoperative period, also draws attention.

Acceptability and perception of COVID-19 vaccines among foreign medical students in China: A cross-sectional study.

Acceptability and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine among different social groups have been the subject of several studies. However, little is known about foreign medical students in Chinese universities. This study, therefore, fills the literature gap using a focus group technique to assess the acceptance and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine among foreign medical students in China. The study adopted an online cross-sectional survey method following the Chinese universities' lockdowns to collect the data between March and April 2022. A data collection questionnaire was developed, and then the link was shared with the respondents through key informants in different universities in China to obtain the data. The data collection process only included foreign medical students who were in China from May 2021 to April 2022. The authors received a total of 403 responses from the respondents. During data processing, we excluded 17 respondents since they were not in China while administering the questionnaire to enhance the data validity. The authors then coded the remaining 386 respondents for the estimation process. We finally applied the multilinear logistics regression technique to model the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance with the response or influencing factors, including the mediating factors among the foreign medical students in China. The data statistics show that 4.9% of the respondents were younger than 20 years, 91.5% were 20-40 years old, and 3.6% were older than 40 years; 36.3% of respondents were female subjects and 63.7% were male subjects. The results also show that the respondents are from six continents, including the African continent, 72.4%, Asia 17.4%, 3.1% from Europe, 2.8% from North America, 1.6% from Australia, and 2.3% from South America. The mediation analysis for the gender variable (β = 0.235, p = 0.002) suggests that gender is a significant channel in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and perception among foreign medical students in China. Also, the main analysis shows that opinion on the safety of the vaccine (β = 0.081, p = 0.043), doses of the vaccine to receive (β = 0.175, p = 0.001), vaccine safety with some side effects (β = 0.15, p = 0.000), and the possibility of acquiring COVID-19 after vaccination (β = 0.062, p = 0.040) are all positive factors influencing vaccine acceptability and perception. Also, the home continent (β = -0.062, p = 0.071) is a negative factor influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and perception. Furthermore, the finding shows that fear perceptions has affected 200 (51.81%) respondents. The medical students feared that the vaccines might result in future implications such as infertility, impotence, and systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, or deep vein thrombosis. In addition, 186 (48.19%) students feared that the vaccines were intended to shorten life expectancy. COVID-19 vaccination acceptability and perception among medical students in China is high, most predominantly due to their knowledge of medicine composition formulation. Despite widespread acceptance by the general public and private stakeholders, we concluded that vaccination resistance remains a significant factor among medical students and trainees. The study further adds that in considering the COVID-19 vaccine, the factor of the home continent plays a significant role in vaccine hesitancy among foreign medical students. Also, knowledge, information, and education are important pillars confronting new medicine administered among medical trainees. Finally, there is a low rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among foreign medical students in China. The study, therefore, recommends targeted policy strategies, including sensitization, detailed public information, and education, especially for medical colleges and institutions on the COVID-19 vaccination, to achieve 100%. Furthermore, the study recommends that future researchers explore other factors influencing accurate information and education for successful COVID-19 vaccination implementation.

Frequency of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection in Foreign Medical Students Vaccined against New Coronavirus Infection

Relevance. The incidence of the novel coronavirus infection is on the rise worldwide. To effectively combat COVID-19, both vaccination and control of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 strains among the population and, especially, foreign citizens arriving in Russia from around the world are necessary. Aim. To determine the frequency of detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in foreign medical students vaccinated against COVID-19 with various vaccine preparations. Materials and methods. Foreign students (510 people) of a medical university aged 18-25 years, vaccinated against COVID-19, who arrived in Russia during June-August 2021, were examined. The determination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was carried out weekly from December 2021 to January 2022 by taking smears from the oropharynx and examining them using a test-PCR systems manufactured by the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor «AmplisensCov-Bat-FL» (registration certificate No. RZN 2014/1987 dated 07.04.2020). Results. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 41 (8.0% [95% CI 5.6÷10.4]) of 510 international students surveyed. Among those vaccinated with vector vaccines based on human adenovirus (Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, Ad26. COV2.S (Johnson&amp;Johnson)) SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 27 (7.6% [95% CI 4.8÷10.4]) a person, mainly after 4–6 months. after vaccination; vaccines based on modified mRNA (BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech), mRNA1273 (Moderna)) – 5.7% [95% CI 1.1÷10.3] people within six months after vaccination. The infectious process was asymptomatic in 39 people, in two (vaccinated with the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer / BioNTech) and Sputnik Light) it had clinical manifestations of severe and moderate severity. Conclusion. Among foreign students vaccinated against COVID-19, in addition to two cases, asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified, which may be a potential source of infection. This indicates the need for vaccination and timely revaccination of foreign and Russian students, as well as compliance with the anti-epidemic regime.

Perception and Experience of COVID 19 Vaccine Side Effect among Foreign Medical Students in JASU

Perception and Experience of COVID 19 Vaccine Side Effect among Foreign Medical Students in JASU

Professor Lorenz Heister (1683-1758), His Discovery of Appendicitis and Other Innovations in Surgery.

Professor Lorenz Heister (1683-1758) is considered as one of the most significant surgeons of the Deutschland area, named as the father of Surgical Anatomy in Germany. He was a reputable Professor who taught a great number of Deutsch and foreign medical students. He was a prolific writer whose treatises received many editions being translated in the most important languages of his era. His texts books became reference works for the European Universities and Japanese physicians and surgeons. He had discovered and scientifically described the appendicitis, while he was coined with the term tracheotomy. He had made several surgical innovations and demonstrated novel techniques and anatomical entities of the human body in his atlases.

The issue of training foreign medical students at the modern stage

Despite the war in Ukraine, medicine remained one of the most popular specialties for this year's applicants. Ukrainian universities should work more actively on the development of innovative solutions in the field of digitization of education, the combination of mixed and modern virtual education with academic mobility. The educational space is characterized by an increase in socio-cultural complexity, the consequence of which is the complication of relations between both Ukrainian and foreign students. With this in mind, the strategic tasks of higher education in Ukraine are the formation of multicultural relationships in the student body, since almost all student groups are multicultural.&#x0D; The main goal of this work is to determine the features of training foreign medical students in the multicultural environment at medical higher educational institutions.&#x0D; The main issue today is the problem of dialogue between cultures in a multicultural environment. The importance of this question is undeniable, since the dialogue is oriented towards the future and involves deep knowledge of the spiritual structure and intellectual system of the society with which the dialogue is carried out.&#x0D; Multicultural education is a process of preparing individuals for social, political and economic realities in which they gain their life experience, and as a result, the individual develops his ability to perceive a multicultural environment. One of the key principles of multicultural education and upbringing is the principle of tolerance.&#x0D; The foreign students education process efficacy in the created multicultural environment will be facilitated by the development of skills and interpersonal communication skills. The authors concluded that foreign students’ preparation for interpersonal communication will be hindered by organizing of their creative activity by means of interactive technologies.&#x0D; The development of creative abilities can be ensured through the use of interactive learning tools: solving practical medical problems, solving conflict situations with patients or colleagues, role-playing, business games, applying the project method, developing associative thinking, creative independent work. The teacher should offer students of higher education a variety of individual tasks and situations, because the more actively future doctors perform them, the better their creative abilities develop.&#x0D; Thus, the process of multicultural education is aimed at forming socially and professionally important qualities of an individual, at creating and expanding the circle of his relations to society, to people in the surrounding world, to himself.&#x0D; In view of the foregoing, we conclude that the creation of a multicultural environment in a medical institution of higher education is a necessary condition for the training of foreign students in interpersonal communication.&#x0D; We see the prospect of further research in defining the essence of the concept of “multicultural environment of a medical institution of higher education” and clarifying the peculiarities of training foreign students - future doctors - for interpersonal communication in this environment.

Nutritional habits of the foreign medical students (Kyrgyzstan)

As we already know the threats due to the undernutrition is unnoticed for the millennia and it gradually rises to the peak which destroys the life of human life and student.We briefly gonna see how it works for the foreign medical graduates. How it affects them in a geographical location different from their native,and how are they gonna get out of it?

Forming the Skills of Asking Questions (from the Experince of Foreign Medical Students’ Langauge Training)

The article introduces a system of exercises (conditionally communicative, situationally conditioned communicative) developed by the author for the formation of the ability to pose questions (to ask). The tasks were performed in oral / written form by foreign students of the medical faculty. It is stressed that this type of activity is quite an effective didactic tool used for language training of foreign medical students to develop their ability to ask different types of questions (open, closed, clarifying), which promotes dialogic communication between medical specialists and patients / colleagues. The exercises are supplemented with instructions, tables / examples / theoretical material. It is found out that foreign medical students’ ability to ask questions is grounded on available thorough knowledge at the level of professional communication, in particular medical terminology, theoretical knowledge about various types of questions, acquired communicative and speech experience during practical training in health care institutions, as well as the following skills: 1) combine language units in a correct way; 2) determine the purpose of the inquiry in accordance with the content of the communication / professional and communicative situation; 3) predict / guide the possible answers of the patient / his relatives / specialists in the medical field, which clarify / expand the available knowledge in accordance with the inquiry. It is worth mentioning that medical terms (types of diseases, symptoms, complaints, nature of pain, medicines, organs and parts of the human body) in interrogative sentences mark simulated professional and communicative situations, determine the semantic and conceptual unity of the statements of medical professionals and their patients / colleagues. The proposed educational and methodological support (conditional communicative, situationally conditioned communicative exercises) contributes to the expanding foreign medical students’ vocabulary with active and passive terminological vocabulary, as well as to the conscious usage of professional vocabulary in «question – answer» structures during simulated dialogic practice according to various models (a doctor ⟷ a patient, a doctor ⟷ a colleague). The methodological developments presented in the article involve raising awareness of the need to acquire the skills of asking questions for effective dialogic communication between medical professionals and their patients / patients’ relatives/ colleagues.

A nexus between foreign students, foreign medical students, international tourism and health tourism - global trends and the case of Turkey

A nexus between foreign students, foreign medical students, international tourism and health tourism - global trends and the case of Turkey

Impact of war on foreign students' satisfaction with quality of dental and medical education in Ukraine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in foreign students' satisfaction with the quality of dental and medical education considering the impact of the war in Ukraine. The present study was organized in the form of a questionnaire-based survey among 300 foreign students of Medical Faculty and Faculty of Dentistry in Ukraine. The questionnaire was ad mistered via Google form in a multiple-choice, closed-ended format. Students' satisfaction with environment safety and comfort (p < 0.05) and with the collaborative learning offered (p < 0.05) statistically decreased during the war. Sixty percent of the variability in the mean of students' satisfaction with the quality of education during the war could be explained by the satisfaction rate before the war. The need of migration from Ukraine had a stronger inverse correlation with education quality (r = -0.58) than the fact of the war itself (r = -0.32). The war in Ukraine has had a negative impact on the educational process of foreign medical and dental students, even though the quality of education was considered by students to be as high as before and during the war. The personal effort of professors, the quality of study materials, and adequate technical support could potentially overcome the negative impact of the war on student satisfaction with the quality of medical and dental education by the online mode, if the academic medium could be protected from the direct impact of the war or if the influence of the war within the university community could be minimized.

Involving Students in the Development and Mediation of Assessment Competences. A Case Study: Romanian as a Foreign Language. Medical Language

The cementing of mediation as an integral part of the 2020 CEFR/CV (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages/ Companion Volume) and, consequently, of adequate assessment processes, sets the task of rethinking the Romanian language test for foreign medical students at the UMFVBT (The “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara). Mediation should be addressed with a view to integrating it into the comprehensive learning, testing and evaluation process. The paper points beyond a summative form of assessment and argues in favour of adding formative, dynamic forms of assessment during the language course on specific written mediation competences. Within this framework, we plead for partially restricting the overall authority of the teacher in matters of assessment and for involving the students in the very assessment of the mediation competences they are to acquire and develop. In order to avoid messy progress and to ensure a systematic, methodical and beneficial process, assessment requires careful preparation and monitoring. To this end, the paper suggests a hybridisation of learning and assessing, and lays out a coherent series of learning tasks adding up to a complex task suite, a multi-stage task designed to directly involve the students in as many learning and assessment stages as possible.

SPECIFICITY PROFESSIONAL AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES OF KAZAKH AS A FOREIGHN TEACHER IN A MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

The article discusses the features of teaching foreign medical students, describes the specifics of the organization of the educational process and new forms of teaching. The authors substantiate the position that the use of the language of the intermediary is an innovative form of education and contributes to the successful linguistic and socio-cultural adaptation of foreign students in modern conditions of study at a Kazakhstani university. The study of this problem, conducted by the authors within this direction, indicates that the success of the work of a teacher depends not only on learning the language simultaneously with the study of a person as a linguistic personality, but also on how creatively the teacher applies the methods of pedagogical management of the provided linguoethnosociety. At the same time, a significant role in a medical university is played by the connection between teaching the discipline and the specialty received, in connection with which the language of medical science becomes. Firstly, the main motivating factor, and secondly, it expands the volume of professional communication, contributes to the enculturation of a foreign-speaking person into the Kazakh reality, and therefore, simplifies the solution of socio-psychological problems. The article also discusses the main methods of adaptation of foreign students: psychological, social, ethnic. The introduction of foreign students into academic groups with Kazakh students contributes to a better assimilation of the established university order, comprehension and assimilation of new cultural contexts and meanings along with the values ​​of the new socio-cultural environment. The active involvement of foreign students in the educational process forms the personality of the student. It also touches upon the issue of increasing the motivation to study the Kazakh language of foreign medical students in connection with the need to use it as a tool for mastering the future specialty. In this article, the authors note the special significance and benefits of using an intermediary language. The authors of the article consider these issues based on many years of teaching experience with foreign students at a medical university.

Psychological and sociocultural adaptation of medical university international students in Armenia

Moving from one academic environment to another and relocating in a new country to study is becoming an increasingly common occurrence. The article deals with the problem of socio-cultural adaptation of foreign students who come to study in Armenia at medical universities. Based on the results of a study conducted in 2021-2022, the degree of adaptability of Indian students to the new social, cultural and academic realities of Armenia was studied. The object of the study was 140 students who arrived from India and study at the Mkhitar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University. It has been established that the most important factors for successful adaptation to new conditions for a foreign student are overcoming the language barrier, creating a favorable communication system of interaction, getting used to the conditions of the Armenian education system. Most of the respondents agreed that they like the Armenian culture and that there are linguistic similarities between the two peoples. This fact can serve as a basis for successful adaptation to the Armenian reality. Conclusion: This study identifies to lighted critical issues in supporting international students with adaptation problems to university life in Armenia. It is on this basis that we can talk about symmetrical adaptation. The results of the study can be used in educational activities to optimize the process of adaptation of foreign medical students.