Esra KIRATLI NALBANT, Sezin ÜNLÜ, Işıl GÖĞEM İMREN
Archives of Current Medical Research - 2026;7(2):331-338
Background: Skin self-examination (SSE) is a critical practice in identifying melanoma at an early, more treatable stage. As visual learning platforms grow in popularity, YouTube has emerged as a key source of health-related information. However, the reliability and educational value of its content remain uncertain. This study aimed to analyze YouTube videos on SSE, assessing their overall quality, clarity, and trustworthiness as educational tools. Methods: On June 22, 2023, 150 videos retrieved using the term "skin self-examination" were screened, resulting in 67 videos for inclusion. Videos were evaluated based on characteristics, viewer engagement, and source type. Quality assessment utilized three validated tools GQS, PEMAT-A/V, modified DISCERN and a custom checklist to assess informational completeness. Results: The majority of videos (77.6%) featured healthcare professionals. Procedural videos achieved significantly higher scores for quality and comprehensibility. However, a significant lack of comprehensiveness was found in key instructional elements: basic topics such sun protection (absent in 73.1% of all videos) and body mapping (absent in 56.7% of all videos) were often missed. Independent creators showed greater engagement metrics (p=0.018), though medically produced videos were judged more useful (p=0.04). Conclusion: Although many YouTube videos on SSE generate substantial interest, they are inconsistent and often lack comprehensive, practical health education. Increasing the visibility of accurate, high-quality content by professionals is essential for improving public awareness.
