Validity and Usefulness of YouTube Videos Related to Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Patient Information.

This article evaluates the completeness and accuracy of YouTube videos related to endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) as a source for patient information.  YouTube was searched using relevant terms pertaining to ETS. Videos were evaluated independently by two physician reviewers experienced in ETS. Video demographics including uploader source along with validity scores based on predetermined checklists were captured.  Internet.  Not applicable.  A novel ETS scoring checklist, the modified DISCERN criteria, and (JAMA) benchmark score were used to measure completeness and accuracy of videos. video power index (VPI) was calculated to reflect popularity. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated for rater agreement.  Seventy-nine videos were included in final scoring and analysis. The ETS score, DISCERN, JAMA, and mean VPI across all included videos were 5.0 ± 2.7, 2.4 ± 0.83, 2.19 ± 0.62, and 8.92 ± 18.1, respectively. Based on the ETS score checklist, 31 (39%) of the videos were rated as poor, 30 (38%) were moderately useful, 17 (22%) were useful, and 1 (1%) was exceptional. There was a significant positive correlation between the ETS, DISCERN, and JAMA scores (  < 0.001), but no correlation with VPI and the validity scores. There were no significant differences comparing validity scores based on the uploader source.  YouTube videos related to ETS have limited usefulness and poor overall validity for patient information. Clinicians should direct patients to other validated sources of information and aim to improve the comprehensiveness of ETS-related videos.