Efficacy of Blended Learning in the Teaching of Basic Surgical Skills in Medical Students at a Public University in Peru Between 2018 and 2022

The objective of the research was to evaluate the efficacy of a Blended learning (B-learning) intervention to improve basic surgical skills in human medicine students at a public university in Lima, Peru. A quasi-experimental pretest/posttest study was carried out among enrolled in the Surgery course at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru). The achievement of basic surgical skills related to biosafety, tying, and suturing using simulators of low to intermediate complexity were evaluated. The McNemar´s and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for result analysis. The results showed that the intervention improved biosafety surgical skills (including handwashing, clothing, glove usage), as well as knot-making and suturings (p < 0.05). Observation revealed challenges with fine psychomotor skills and ergonomic risk factors. Interviews yielded positive reactions, significant learning, and motivation for continuous learning. Left-handed students reported serious procedural difficulties, indicating a need for more targeted training. Teachers provided audiovisual materials contributing to the achievement of basic surgical skills. The incorporation of b-learning into the learning process in basic surgical techniques significantly increase students’ skills. Further refinement of the model for left-handed students and ongoing training for teachers in virtual material design is necessary.