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The Availability and Content Analysis of Melanoma Information on YouTube

2010; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 126; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/prs.0b013e3181dab3cd

1529-4242

Kajal Babamiri, Reza Nassab,

Social Media in Health Education

Sir: YouTube, created in 2005, allows users to view and upload video clips covering a diverse spectrum of topics.1 Sabel et al. showed that 39 percent of patients with melanoma used the Internet to research their disease.2 The aim of this study was to investigate the availability and content of video clips relating to melanoma on YouTube. The search term "melanoma" returned 704 video clips on YouTube. We analyzed the 100 most relevant clips, as identified by YouTube. Irrelevant, duplicate, and foreign video clips were excluded, leaving 61 clips for our analysis. These 61 clips had been viewed 134,068 times. Content analysis assessed six areas, as follows: general information, risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Statistical analysis using chi-square tests was performed to investigate whether topic areas discussed varied significantly between amateur and professionally made clips. Our study revealed that most clips (62.3 percent) were uploaded by medical professionals, institutions, news broadcasters, government, or nonprofit organizations. The target audience of the majority of videos was the general public (95.1 percent). Most clips (70.5 percent) were professionally produced. Analysis of video clips according to the origin of clip, nature of production, and coverage of the six information areas is illustrated in Table 1. Professionally made clips had a tendency to cover with accuracy a wide range of topics relating to melanoma. The majority of clips (62.3 percent) covered general information relating to melanoma such as the definition, cause, signs, and symptoms. Risk factors for melanoma were also discussed in two-thirds of clips. A quarter of clips covered diagnosis and treatment. Prevention was not as frequently discussed in the clips (18.0 percent). Statistical analysis revealed that professionally made clips were significantly more likely to discuss general and treatment topics when compared with amateur clips.Table 1: Origin of Clip, Nature of Production, and Presence of Specific ContentAdvantages of web-based information include better informed patients; improved doctor-patient relationships by sharing responsibility for knowledge and enhancing communication; more efficient use of time, as patients will have gained prior basic knowledge; adjunct to information provided by doctor; and a source of information for doctors to update their knowledge.3 However, concerns have been raised regarding an unregulated and uncensored video-sharing web site for dissemination of medical information.4 A review of melanoma information using Internet search engines revealed a lack of complete information and inaccuracies in 14 percent of web sites reviewed.5 Our study found two clips showing patients testifying cure of melanoma from alternative therapies with no scientific basis. The quality of information on the Internet remains the primary concern for opponents of this as a source of knowledge.3 The impact on the doctor-patient relationship may also be affected in a negative way. Patients may present with clinically inappropriate requests or challenge a doctor's treatment plan.3 YouTube is a potentially valuable resource for the dissemination of information on the Internet. Our study reveals that available video clips contain information covering almost all aspects of melanoma directed predominately at the general public. With appropriate guidance of patients toward established clips from reputed institutions, understanding and awareness of this condition can be facilitated. Kajal Babamiri, M.D. Royal Oldham Hospital Oldham Reza S. Nassab, M.R.C.S.Ed., M.R.C.S.Eng., M.B.A. Countess of Chester Hospital Chester, United Kingdom