Indicators Of General Health and Life Quality of Foreign Medical Students and Establishing Their Relationship to the Level of Social and Psychological Adaptation

Abstract

The problem of adapting foreign students to medical educational institutions represents one of the most pressing interdisciplinary issues in modern higher education. According to UNESCO data, the number of foreign students worldwide has exceeded 6.1 million, with medical specialties accounting for 12-15% of t/he total number of students studying abroad. In the Republic of Uzbekistan, the share of foreign students in medical universities reaches 35-40% of the total contingent, which creates special challenges for the medical education system (Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2023). The process of socio-psychological adaptation for foreign medical students is characterized by significant complexity, necessitated by the simultaneous overcoming of language barriers, cultural differences, academic requirements, and the specifics of medical education. Ineffective adaptation negatively impacts the physical and mental health indicators, quality of life, academic performance, and professional training of future doctors.