Quality and Educational Value of YouTube Surgical Videos of Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction The aim of the study is to evaluate the quality and educational value of surgical videos on YouTube (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, CA) demonstrating transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Methods A thorough YouTube search for "TURP" or "transurethral resection of the prostate" was performed. Each video's uploader, content, duration, date of upload, time since upload, views, comments, likes, and dislikes, and Video Power Index (VPI) scores were recorded and evaluated. Video analysis and rating followed the LAParoscopic Surgery Video Educational Guidelines (LAP-VEGaS) recommendations, which constitute nine items with values from 0 (absence) to 2 (complete presence). The guidelines' overall score can be 0 to 18. A higher score is indicative of a better level of educational value. Results There were a total of 43 videos included, 10 (23.3%) of which were academic publications. The average LAP-VEGaS score was 6.58, with 22 (51.2%), 18 (41.8%), and three (7%) videos classified as having low, medium, and high educational quality, respectively. None of the videos satisfied all the requirements outlined in the checklist. There was no statistically significant positive correlation observed between the educational score and the number of views. Conclusion A significant proportion of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) videos available on the YouTube platform exhibit limited educational value. Videos frequently lack comprehensive and in-depth descriptions of surgical operations. Those seeking information on TURP should carefully choose which videos to view. It is recommended that academic institutions establish comprehensive criteria aimed at enhancing the educational value of surgical videos on the YouTube platform.