YouTube™ as a provenance of guidance on oral cancer among dental professionals and patients in India: An analytic observation

Context: We examined the content of YouTube™ videos on oral cancer and evaluated their usefulness in promoting the early detection of oral cancer. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the videos available on YouTube™ related to dentistry and the oral cancer. Settings and Design: An analytic observation was performed. Subjects and Methods: The top 245 English-language videos on oral cancer with at least 300 views were analyzed. Demographics of videos, including target audience, source, country of origin, content, number of views, time watched, average views, duration, like/dislike ratio, and two researchers independently assessed the videos for usefulness in promoting the early detection of oral cancer. Statistical Analysis Used: Total video information and quality index (VIQI) scores were calculated, consisting information, accuracy, quality, and precision indices. Nonparametric tests were used for the analysis. Results: A total of 245 YouTube™ videos (147) patient-oriented educational videos and 98 testimonial videos) were analyzed. There was no significant association between video usefulness and viewing rate, viewers' involvement, or video duration, and the most valuable videos were ranked last on the viewing list. When compared to videos produced by professional organizations or health-care professionals, videos uploaded by individual users were less useful. A comparison of the indices according to the relevance of the videos showed statistically significant differences in the videos' information and precision indices and total VIQI scores. Conclusions: By uploading beneficial videos and referring patients to credible information sources, health-care professionals, academic institutions, and professional organizations can improve the content of YouTube™ regarding oral cancer.