Design of a Virtual Manual as a complementary teaching resource in the training of Veterinary Medicine students in the General Surgery subject at the Concepción campus of the San Sebastián University.

Abstract

Practical surgical training in veterinary education presents ongoing challenges due to ethical, logistical, and pedagogical constraints that limit students’ active participation in real procedures. In the General Surgery course at Universidad San Sebastián (Concepción, Chile), students face restricted patient availability, limited operating room access, and reduced opportunities to assume primary surgical roles. These conditions frequently generate stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, hindering the development of essential clinical and technical skills.

To address this issue, the Teaching Innovation Project designed a Virtual Surgical Manual integrating audiovisual capsules, step-by-step technical guides, demonstrations of aseptic techniques, surgical preparation, and basic suture patterns. A diagnostic survey was administered to 50 students, achieving a 90% response rate. Results indicated that 77.8% did not feel capable of performing surgery independently, 91.1% expressed the need for improved and expanded learning materials, and 83.7% believed that a virtual manual would enhance their learning experience.

Following the implementation of the audiovisual resource, an exit survey revealed strong content retention (87%–100% correct answers) and highly positive student perception: 97.9% considered the manual useful, and 87.2% stated that it would reduce stress and anxiety when facing surgical procedures. The project demonstrates that a virtual manual is an effective, accessible, and pedagogically coherent tool aligned with current needs in veterinary education.