Digital learning: The reach of podcasts and YouTube on trauma surgery education

Abstract

BackgroundPhysicians, medical students, and health care professionals are charged with staying current throughout their training. No studies have examined the scope of trauma surgery–related podcasts and videos. Our goal was to characterize and evaluate the growing number of trauma-related podcasts and YouTube channels. MethodsWe conducted a search across 3 podcasting platforms (Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify) and 1 video-sharing site (YouTube) for podcasts published up to November 11, 2022. We queued platforms for “Trauma” and “Trauma Surgery.” We included podcasts or video channels in English that focused on trauma surgery or trauma survivorship and recovery. Descriptive analyses were used to determine the characteristics of podcasts and YouTube channels, reported as counts. ResultsWe identified 91 podcasts and 103 YouTube channels dedicated to trauma recovery and/or trauma surgery. The longest running podcast was the “TraumaCast,” and the oldest YouTube channel was “TraumaPro.” The podcast with the most episodes was “Trauma Therapist,” and the YouTube channel with the most episodes was the Arizona Trauma Association. Podcasts were aimed at public audiences, whereas YouTube channels focused on providers. A large proportion of content is not created by licensed professionals. ConclusionsOur study shows that popular trauma-focused podcasts target the general population, not health care professionals. The content creators behind these digital platforms seek to educate the public on the recovery process after traumatic injury. We must better understand the advantages and pitfalls of these ubiquitous resources.