Information on surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia on YouTube is highly biased and misleading

Abstract

Objectives To assess the quality of videos on the surgical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) available on YouTube, given that such video‐sharing platforms are frequently used as sources of patient information and the therapeutic landscape of LUTS/BPH has evolved substantially during recent years. Materials and Methods A systematic search for videos on YouTube addressing treatment options for LUTS/BPH was performed in May 2019. Measures assessed included basic data (e.g. number of views), grade of misinformation and reporting of conflicts of interest. The quality of content was analysed using the validated DISCERN questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 159 videos with a median (range) of 8570 (648–2 384 391) views were included in the analysis. Only 21 videos (13.2%) were rated as containing no misinformation, 26 (16.4%) were free of commercial bias, and two (1.3%) disclosed potential conflicts of interest. According to DISCERN, the median overall quality of the videos was low (2 out of 5 points for question 16). Only four of the 15 assessed categories (bipolar and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, transurethral resection of the prostate and patient‐based search terms) were scored as having moderate median overall quality (3 points). Conclusion Most videos on the surgical treatment of LUTS/BPH on YouTube had a low quality of content, provided misinformation, were subject to commercial bias and did not report on conflicts of interest. These findings emphasize the importance of thorough doctor–patient communication and active recommendation of unbiased patient education materials.

Evidence‐based quality and accuracy of YouTube videos about nephrolithiasis

“…Prior work on written online information showed significant variability in the quality of medical recommendations for stone formers [22]. More recently, several studies have reported deficiencies in online video quality across a variety of urological conditions [17–19,23,24]. This is an area deserving of greater attention, as interest in kidney stone disease on YouTube has been steadily rising: worldwide searches for ‘kidney stones’ on YouTube have doubled since 2015 (Fig.…”

“…Online information about urological conditions shared through Web 2.0, which refers to websites with user‐generated content and includes social media and online video‐sharing platforms, may have increased deficiencies compared to other sources of consumer information [16,17]. Several recent studies have also specifically focussed on the wide variability in quality of information on benign and non‐benign urological diseases available on YouTube, the leading online video sharing platform and one of the earliest Web 2.0 platforms [17–19].…”

Prostatectomía convencional versus resección endoscópica de próstata monopolar en pacientes con Hiperplasia Prostática: un estudio de corte retrospectivo

“…(28) La glicina causa aumento de los niveles de amonio no obstante se necesitan aumentos de 10-15 veces para causar encefalopatía. (29) El sorbitol se metaboliza en glucosa, fructuosa y lactato, produciendo un efecto osmótico similar e inferior al manitol y actualmente se considera la solución con menos efectos adversos. (30) Nosotros no encontramos ningún caso de hiponatremia dilucional, comparado con un 6.46% en una muestra de 21 resecciones, estudiadas por Arbej JP, et al (6) La fistula vesico-cutánea es la mayor y más grave complicación que puede ocurrir en el sitio quirúrgico.…”

An analysis of misleading YouTube videos on urological conditions: what to do about the danger of spreading misinformation of the YouTube videos?

“…This may lead to increase dissemination of misinformation. The previous studies of the authors on this subject have also emphasized that this problem is not only in the surgical treatment of urinary stones but also in other urological conditions [3].…”