Globalizing Procedural Pain Training: A Spanish-Language AI/VR Module for Gasserian Ganglion Block Instruction

Background and/or Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) offer scalable, immersive solutions for procedural medical training by addressing limitations of traditional methods such as cadaver labs.

Objective: to evaluate the educational utility and usability of a Spanish-language AI/VR-based procedural training video demonstrating a Gasserian ganglion block for trigeminal neuralgia. Designed as a prototype for scalable procedural education, the module aims to improve access to high-quality training resources in Spanish-speaking regions. This pilot study focused on medical students in Guatemala from Universidad Francisco Marroquín.

Design: Cross-sectional study using a post-training survey instrument.

Setting : Academic setting at Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala. The module was delivered via video.

Participants : 100 medical students from Universidad Francisco Marroquín, with varying levels of clinical experience and procedural exposure.

Interventions: A Spanish-language AI/VR training module demonstrating a fluoroscopy-guided Gasserian ganglion block for trigeminal neuralgia, featuring multilingual AI-generated narration. Developed as a prototype, the module aims to serve as a scalable tool for future pain procedure training in Spanish-speaking settings.

Main Outcome Measures: Understanding of procedural steps, Perceived educational effectiveness compared to traditional methods, Learner confidence

Results: Overall, the AI/VR training module was clear, understandable, and improved understanding of procedural steps regardless of years of clinical experience, being more effective than traditional teaching methods, with a mean score of 3.55 ± 1.08. It was strongly agreed that AI/VR based training should be integrated into the medical education curriculum (4.21 ± 0.85). However, the module was less effective in immediately boosting learners’ confidence to perform procedures, with a lower confidence score of 2.71 ± 1.33.

Conclusions: This Spanish-language AI/VR module, piloted among Guatemalan medical students at Universidad Francisco Marroquín, significantly enhanced understanding of a complex pain procedure and was rated more effective than traditional teaching. Though less effective in building procedural confidence, it highlights the potential of immersive, language-accessible platforms to advance global procedural education.