Hasan GÜNGÖR, Mustafa SEYYAR, Mehmet DUVARCI
Çukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi - 2026;9(2):280-287
Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the informational quality, reliability, and popularity of kidney cancer -related content on YouTube (TM) using validated assessment tools. Methods: A total of 300 YouTube (TM) videos identified using kidney cancer -related search terms were screened, and 157 videos meeting the predefined inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. Video popularity was assessed using the Video Power Index (VPI). Informational quality and reliability were evaluated using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS), and Video Information Quality Index (VIQI). Videos were classified according to publisher type and narrator. Results: Of the analyzed videos, 121 (77%) were classified as useful, while 36 (23%) contained misleading or incomplete information. Hospital - and physician -based videos demonstrated significantly higher mDISCERN, JAMA, GQS, and VIQI scores compared to health -related channels (all p<0.001). VPI values did not differ significantly among publisher types (p=0.863). Informational quality scores were positively correlated with view ratio, whereas a significant negative correlation was identified between like ratio and view ratio (r = -0.376, p<0.001). Conclusions: YouTube (TM) videos on kidney cancer vary widely in quality. While institutional and physician -led videos provide more reliable information, popularity metrics do not necessarily reflect informational accuracy. These findings emphasize the need for greater institutional involvement in digital health communication and improved patient guidance regarding online oncology content.
