Percutaneous nephrolithotomy on YouTube: Valuable educational resource for urologists and patients or misleading...

To evaluate the quality, reliability, and educational value of YouTube videos related to percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), with a specific focus on the content available for urologists and patients seeking information online.

A systematic YouTube search using the key words "PCNL" and "percutaneous nephrolithotomy" was conducted. Videos were included if they were in English, had audio, and were relevant to PCNL. Two expert urologists independently evaluated each video. Collected data included upload year, video length, content type, target audience, source, geographic origin, and surgical position. The quality of the videos was assessed using the DISCERN instrument and Global Quality Score (GQS).

Of 65 identified videos, 26 met inclusion criteria. Most were aimed at healthcare professionals (84.6%) and were uploaded by physicians (65.4%). Only 15.4% were patient-oriented. The prone position was depicted in 84.6% of videos. The median duration was 7 minutes 58 seconds. The median view ratio was 102.3 views/day. The median DISCERN score was 2 (IQR 1), and the median GQS score was 3 (IQR 1.375), reflecting moderate educational quality.

YouTube contains a moderate-quality body of PCNL videos primarily designed for professional audiences. There is a clear shortage of reliable, patient-centered educational content. Healthcare organizations and scientific societies should proactively develop and promote accessible, high-quality educational resources for patients.