YouTube Videos as a Tool to Educate Medical Students About Careers in Radiation Oncology

For medical students, choosing a specialty is a pivotal decision with major professional and personal implications. Career information from popular resources like YouTube may be particularly relevant for radiation oncology, where exposure in medical curricula is limited. This study aims to characterise YouTube videos providing career insights into the field. The first 50 results from six YouTube searches related to radiation oncology careers were programmatically extracted using a Python script, yielding an initial pool of 300 videos. Videos were ranked based on frequency across searches and position in the results. After applying predetermined inclusion criteria, the top 50 videos were analysed using a previously validated video assessment tool. Videos originated from the United States (36/50), India (9/50), Canada (3/50), and Australia (2/50). Most (80%) were released within four years of the search, including 32% in 2020. Half were published by healthcare facilities, with 12 of 25 promoting their respective residency programs. Overall, coverage varied across career needs, with frequent focus on the nature of work (86%), altruism (60%), and intellectual satisfaction (60%), while several aspects, including lifestyle (28%) and salary (18%), received less attention. Radiation oncology careers were often depicted as patient-oriented (74%), technology-driven (72%), compassionate (68%), and meaningful (62%). YouTube videos highlight values inherent to the specialty but underrepresent practical career considerations. These findings characterise one accessible source of radiation oncology career information and identify areas where future resources could provide a more comprehensive overview of the field.