Evaluating the quality of Japanese YouTube videos on breast cancer treatment using PRHISM: comparison by source...

Breast cancer patients require a wide range of medical information, and an increasing number now use social media as a primary source. However, the quality of such information varies considerably, and its reliability often depends on the source. To address this, Denniss et al. developed PRHISM, a tool designed to evaluate the quality of information on social media platforms. In our previous study, we demonstrated validity of PRHISM. This study evaluated Japanese YouTube videos on breast cancer treatment and examined differences in quality by source type.

The top 60 videos displayed in order of relevance were selected on YouTube using the search terms "breast cancer," "treatment," and "chemotherapy." Six breast cancer specialists evaluated the informational quality using PRHISM. Based on the National Academy of Medicine, video sources were classified as credible or other sources. The quality of the videos was then compared using PRHISM scores.

The overall mean PRHISM score was 60.6 (SD 11.5); 8 videos (13.3%) were rated excellent and 37 (61.7%) good. Videos from credible sources (n = 19) had a significantly higher mean score (70.9, SD 7.67) than those from other sources (n = 41; 55.8, SD 9.79; p = 0.001). The proportion of videos rated as excellent or good was also significantly higher among credible sources (p = 0.023).

Japanese YouTube videos on breast cancer treatment were generally of relatively high quality. Videos from credible sources received significantly higher evaluations. When patients search for medical information on YouTube, it is advisable that they refer to content provided by recommended and credible sources.