Aim: Assessment of predictive value of results of maturity exams applied as admission criteria for pharmaceutical studies at the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW) between 2010-2012. Material and methods: Data of 390 students who began their studies and completed their first year of full-time studies at the pharmaceutical department of MUW. Admission data included: total score gained by a candidate, score concerning biology, chemistry and mathematics. Results in three subjects included in the first year studies curriculum were assessed (Anatomy, Biology with genetics and Pharmaceutical Botany) and a grade point average (GPA) covering this period of time. In order to perform predictive assessment, the analysis of correlation was applied as well as multiple regressions. Results: A model of the function of regression in form of: GPA=0.012• (total ranking points) -0.234• (gender) explains sufficiently the changeability of results obtained by students after their first year of studies (F=14.984 P<0.000001). The results of analysis point out that indeed men have lower chances of achieving a higher GPA after their first year than women (β=-0.156). Moreover, GPA value prediction after the first year of studies shows that for every additional ranking point achieved during recruitment, the increase in score is on average 0.236. Conclusion: The total of ranking points achieved by a candidate accepted to pharmaceutical studies is of significance when considering educational outcomes obtained after the first year of studies. Mastering the system of accepting candidates to university may lower the failure rate among the students of a difficult and demanding major such as pharmaceutical one.

A series of N-, S-, and O-mononitro- and dinitrobenzyl derivatives of heterocycles was synthesized by alkylation of heterocyclic bases with the respective nitrobenzyl chlorides. Of the newly synthesized compounds, dinitrobenzylsulfanyl derivatives of 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole (2c) and of 5-nitro- and 5,6-dichloro-2-mercaptobenzimidazole (8b and 8c, and 8e and 8f, respectively) showed considerable antimycobacterial activity. On a molar basis, nine of the novel compounds showed also a considerably higher antiprotozoal efficacy than metronidazole that reduced T. hominis viability to 73.5% at 8 μg/ml.

Aim. Quality assessment of the test entrance examination used for selection of candidates for full-time second-level studies in Midwifery at the Medical University of Warsaw.Material and methods. Five grade-years of candidates (N = 335, 100% of women) who took the entrance exam for Midwifery between 2009/10 and 2013/14. Data collected was related to results of the test examination for studies (total score and scores divided into thematic blocks). Parameters of descriptive statistics were set. Ease and differentiating power of questions and reliability of tests were assessed (alpha-Cronbach). Discriminatory indexes for thematic blocks of the test were set. Calculations were performed in STATISTICA 12.5.Results. The most optimal selection of questions in terms of ease and differentiating power was recorded for the 2009/10 test. None of the editions of the exam met the minimum requirements for the internal consistency of measurement. The best results concerning the reliability of the measurement was observed for the 2009/10 test. Analysis of differentiating power of questions in thematic blocks indicates the diversity of this quality parameter. Very high differentiating index was recorded for the block of questions on specialist care in 2009/10 (0.535), and the lowest in 2013/14 exam (0.150).Conclusions. 1. It is necessary to improve the quality of exam questions in terms of difficulty and differentiating power. 2. Quality of subsequent editions of the admission examination should be monitored, in particular with regard to the control of the reliability of this qualifying tool.

A model of logistic regression was used to evaluate predictive factors that are of potential influence on the risk of the delayed graduation or attrition. Results: For the model with the outcome variable "timely/delayed graduation" it was found that men bear nearly twice as big a risk of a delayed graduation than women (OR=1.978; P=0.004). It was also observed that students recruited within a new system of admission have almost 10 times greater chances for a delayed graduation as opposed students from the years recruited on the basis of old regulations (OR=10.224; P<0.001). Moreover, for a regression model based on the outcome variable" timely graduation/attrition", it was also noted that men bear a greater risk of attrition than women (OR=3.621; P<0.001) and that students recruited within a new system as opposed to the old one (OR=23.734; P<0.001). Also, good predictive ability was found for both recruitment criteria when evaluating the risk of attrition (OR for biology and chemistry was 0.974 and 0.958, respectively). Additionally, it was observed the risk of attrition and failure to complete studies was age on entry (OR=1.154; P=0.05). Conclusion: The obtained results of the predictive analysis allow determining a profile of a student who bears a high risk of attrition during studies at the pharmacy department: man who began his studies at least one after completing secondary school and achieved a score in chemistry and biology below the average compared to other candidates accepted to this faculty.

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