Assessing Laryngectomy Patient Education on YouTube: Investigating Quality and Reliability

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to characterize the quality of laryngectomy‐related patient education on YouTube and understand factors impacting video content quality.Study DesignCross‐sectional cohort analysis.SettingLaryngectomy‐related videos on YouTube.MethodsYouTube was anonymously queried for various laryngectomy procedure search terms. Video quality was evaluated using the validated DISCERN instrument which assesses treatment‐related information quality. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our cohort. Univariate and multivariable linear regression were used to assess factors associated with increased DISCERN score. Significance was set at P < .05.ResultsOur 78‐video cohort exhibited moderate levels of engagement, averaging 13,028.40 views (SD = 24,246.93), 69.79 likes (SD = 163.75), and 5.27 comments (SD = 18.81). Videos were most frequently uploaded to accounts belonging to physicians (43.59%) or health care groups (41.03%) and showcased operations (52.56%) or physician‐led education (20.51%). Otolaryngologists were featured in most videos (85.90%), and most videos originated outside the United States (67.95%). Laryngectomy videos demonstrated poor reliability (mean = 2.35, SD = 0.77), quality of treatment information (mean = 1.92, SD = 0.86), and overall video quality (mean = 1.97, SD = 1.12). In multivariable linear regression, operative videos were associated with lower video quality relative to nonoperative videos (β = −1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−2.03 to −1.24], P < .001); the opposite was true for videos from accounts with higher subscriber counts (β = 0.02, 95% CI = [0.01‐0.03], P = .005).ConclusionThe quality and quantity of YouTube's laryngectomy educational content is limited. There is an acute need to increase the quantity and quality of online laryngectomy‐related content to better support patients and caregivers as they cope with their diagnosis, prepare for, and recover from surgery.