Video-Based Education in Lung Cancer Screening

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Digital Health Communication

Background:

• Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA.
• Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) now covers LC screening with low-dose CT, requiring shared decision-making (SDM) documentation.
• YouTube is increasingly used for patient recruitment and education in LC screening programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the content of YouTube videos regarding lung cancer screening.
• To evaluate the discussion of guidelines, screening options, target populations, post-screening steps, and risks/benefits of screening.
• To assess the role of YouTube in informing patients about lung cancer screening.

Main Methods:

• Searched YouTube for "lung cancer screening" videos, excluding those without sound, older than 2009, over 20 minutes, duplicates, or in non-English languages.
• Coded 123 selected videos for inclusion of screening process, risks/benefits, guidelines, risk factors, and treatment options.
• Analyzed video content for adherence to United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and CMS guidelines.

Main Results:

• 123 videos accumulated over 261,000 views.
• 38.7% of videos failed to mention USPSTF or CMS guidelines.
• Only 30% discussed screening risks (false positives, radiation, anxiety); 92% were patient-oriented, often from medical institutions or news channels.

Conclusions:

• Lung cancer screening videos on YouTube attract significant viewership.
• The majority of videos emphasize screening benefits while inadequately addressing associated risks.
• Most YouTube videos serve marketing purposes and are insufficient replacements for crucial SDM visits.