Health Information on Breast Cancer Surgery on YouTube®

The quality, reliability and accuracy of health-related videos available online is controversial. Research has examined YouTube® in terms of reconstruction, breast screening, radiotherapy, postoperative arm exercises and mastectomy. The aim of this study is to assess YouTube® as a form of health information on breast cancer surgery/operation.

YouTube® was searched using the terms ``breast cancer surgery'' and ``breast cancer operation.'' Video data was recorded including time since upload, video length, viewer engagement, content and upload source. The quality, accuracy and educational usefulness of videos were analyzed using 3 online quality assessment tools by a single clinician. Gender and ethnic representation of the patient was recorded.

About 48 videos were reviewed, 62% of videos uploaded from a Healthcare source and the most common video category was post-op complications/issues (25% of videos). Engagement was highest for videos uploaded from individuals which showed 54.36 "likes"/day and 6.9 comments/day. Healthcare sourced videos were higher quality. The mean DISCERN score for healthcare videos was 34.33 ± 11.44 compared with non-Healthcare scoring 26.33 ± 8.35 (P = .013). 100% of videos referenced females with breast cancer only. 71% showed only white/Caucasian patients/models.

In line with previous research, this study showed Healthcare sourced videos were of higher quality. Quality of life information hasn't been reported elsewhere however this study found it was limited and of poor quality. While high levels of misleading information have been reported elsewhere, this study highlighted only 4% as misleading/unsafe.

Healthcare professional interaction with YouTube® should be encouraged and empowered, in order to educate with the delivery of high-quality health information which is reliable and valid. Quality of life content should be considered by healthcare professionals. This study highlights a paucity of videos on male breast cancer, and suggests the need for more ethnically diverse patient representation on breast cancer surgery/operation on YouTube.