The role of current academic performance of medical students in preparation for the final exam: experience in teaching the discipline "Hygiene and Ecology"

Current academic performance plays a crucial role in preparing medical students for final exams. High academic achievements during studies are significant predictors of success in the licensing KROK-2 exam, which assesses professional competencies. However, the war in Ukraine has introduced substantial challenges to the educational environment, particularly in medical education, disrupting teaching and learning processes. The aim of this study was to analyze the success of foreign medical students in the KROK-2 exam as a means of improving the effectiveness of the educational process in universities. Materials and Methods. The study analyzed the academic performance of 6th-year foreign medical students specializing in "Medicine" during the 2023 and 2024 academic years. The subtest results for "Hygiene and Health Care Organization" in KROK-2 were compared with academic marks in the discipline "Hygiene and Ecology." Results and Discussion. The analysis revealed significant changes in the distribution of grades between 2023 and 2024. The proportion of students achieving higher grades ("B" and "C") increased, while those with lower grades ("D" and "E") decreased. In 2024, a greater number of students took the KROK-2 exam (252 compared to 112 in 2023). Despite this, the average scores in 2024 were generally lower than in 2023, indicating potential challenges in adapting to wartime conditions. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between KROK-2 results and both discipline scores and everyday control assessments. The correlation strength washigher in 2024, suggesting that current academic performance and regular assessment more effectively predicted exam success compared to 2023. Conclusions. There is a positive trend in student performance, with an increase in higher ECTS grades (“A,” “B,” and “C”) and a decrease in lower grades (“D” and “E”) in 2024. While the number of students taking the KROK-2 exam increased in 2024, the average scores decreased, indicating a need for further investigation into influencing factors. Efforts should focus on enhancing the preparation of students with lower grades (“C,” “D,” and “E”) to improve overall educational outcomes.