Assessment of the Educational Value of Distal Hypospadias Repair Videos on YouTube

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of YouTube videos depicting distal hypospadias repair. MethodsThe search terms “distal hypospadias repair” were used to identify surgical videos on YouTube. Videos were sorted by view count and the top 34 videos were reviewed for baseline video characteristics, key surgical steps covered, and conformity to a modified LAParoscopic surgery Video Educational GuidelineS (LAP-VEGaS) checklist. All videos were reviewed and discussed for conformity by 2 attending pediatric urologists and a urology resident. ResultsOf the 34 videos reviewed, 16 videos were excluded due to content. The median length of videos was 9.94 minutes (range, 2.57-99.12 minutes). Video quality was deemed of high quality in only 39% of videos. The most common type of hypospadias procedures described were tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (n = 13) and meatal advancement and glanuloplasty incorporated (n = 2). The median view count was 7828.5 (range, 1,133-58,619 views). Only 1 video met all modified LAP-VEGaS criteria (range of 33%-100%), and only 2 videos showed every surgical step of distal hypospadias repair (range 33%-100%). Modified LAP-VEGaS score, surgical step score, or quality of the video was not associated with a higher view count. ConclusionDespite being a common procedure, there is a paucity of high-quality videos on YouTube describing distal hypospadias repair techniques. It is unclear how learners select videos for study purposes and the most utilized videos on YouTube are not the most educational videos.