Critical Appraisal of Content Quality of YouTube Videos on the Whipple Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Abstract

IntroductionThe coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated profound issues with using the Internet to research health information. For patients recommended a complex operation, such as the Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy, the quality of health information online has not been appraised. The objective of this study was to define the readability and content quality of YouTube search results for the Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy. MethodsThe first 100 search results for “whipple procedure” less than 10 min long in English with audio and or text were transcribed. The Flesch-Kincaid Grade defined the reading grade level. High content quality videos were accredited by YouTube in accordance with principles specified by the National Academy of Medicine or mentioned the standard components for a surgical consent. The Anderson-Lau score is a composite of these consent criteria out of a maximum of 8/8. The simplicity of videos for patient education was defined by the DISCERN tool. ResultsThe reading level of 23% of the top 100 search results met the American average (8th grade). Accreditation was present for 45% and associated with an earlier median search ranking (36 versus 68, P = 0.002) and more 5th-8th grade level material (70% versus 38%, P = 0.014). The median Anderson-Lau score was 3/8 (range = 0/8-7/8) with only 5% achieving 7/8. Only 4% were high quality per DISCERN. ConclusionsAlthough accredited videos were more readable, most videos, especially those targeting patients, were beyond the comprehension of the average American. Simpler and higher quality educational materials are needed to inform patients on Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy beyond their date of clinical diagnosis or surgical consenting.