Assessment of YouTube Videos Related to Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Thyroid Cancer for Patient Education.

Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among those aged 15-29, with a noticeable increase in cases over the last decade. YouTube, one of the most frequented websites on the internet, serves as a common platform to obtain health information. This study uses a systematic approach to characterize YouTube videos related to radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for thyroid cancer. The first 50 videos across four distinct YouTube search terms related to RAI therapy for thyroid cancer were identified after applying exclusion criteria. A previously validated video assessment tool was utilized to evaluate the videos. Two independent reviewers assessed a random sample of 10 videos, while the remaining 40 videos were evaluated by one reviewer as there were minimal discrepancies in coding. Among the identified videos, 26 videos were published within the past 3 years, with a median video length of 4 min and 53s. The three most common publishers' affiliations were non-profits (15 videos), personal accounts (12 videos), and health care facilities/organizations (11 videos). Most of the videos originated in the United States, used an interview format, featured physician presenters, and were directed towards patients. Highly covered topics included "side effects and risks" and "RAI therapy overview". The findings underscore the significant role YouTube plays in aiding patient comprehension of RAI therapy for thyroid cancer based on video parameters and content. These results can inform physicians' discussions with patients regarding YouTube and contribute to the development of new, high-quality YouTube videos to support thyroid cancer education.