Cleft Lip and Palate YouTube Videos: Content Usefulness and Sentiment Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the content of YouTube videos about cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to describe the sentiment analysis of related comments.

DESIGN

Retrospective, YouTube video, and sentiment analysis.

METHODS

YouTube videos (N = 112) about CLP were examined, including demographics and ratings of quality and usefulness. Comments on CLP (N = 205) were classified by content, and measured from negative (-5) to positive (+5) with a sentiment analysis program.

RESULTS

Videos were uploaded most often by universities and hospitals (25%) and health information sites (22%). Most videos were educational (49.1%) or described patient experiences (48.2%). The most frequent video topics were terminology, CLP treatment, and prenatal diagnosis information. Based on the comprehensiveness of CLP topics covered, videos were generally rated by authors as moderately useful (31.5%) or very useful (35.7%). Comments were mostly made by people with CLP (79%), and the median sentiment scores were +3, and -2 for positive and negative sentiments, respectively. General content categories were positive comments (24.8%), provided information about themselves (24.4%), negative comments (19.5%), comments on usefulness of video (17.6%), or advice (9.3%). While 36.1% of comments noted no difficulties, the remaining comments included difficulties with surgery pain (13.2%), psychological state (12.2%), embarrassment (11.7%), physical appearance (10.2%), long term therapy (9.8%), and speech problems (6.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although useful and educational YouTube videos were available, the variability of content quality suggests that caution be used in relying on videos for information and that experts in CLP treatment should be consulted.