YouTube as a Source of Patient Education in Medulloblastoma: How Reliable is it?

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant cerebellar tumor in children. With increasing health information-seeking behavior, YouTube has emerged as a popular source for patient education. However, the unregulated nature of its medical content raises concerns regarding accuracy and reliability. To evaluate the quality, reliability, and popularity of YouTube videos related to medulloblastoma using validated assessment tools. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed the first 100 YouTube videos retrieved using the keyword "medulloblastoma" (June 26, 2025). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 96 videos were evaluated. Data collected included video source, views, likes, comments, and age. Quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN) instrument, Journal of the American Medical Association benchmarks, and Global Quality Score (GQS). Nonparametric statistical tests and Spearman correlation were applied. Videos originated primarily from the United States (45.8%), the United Kingdom (18.8%), and India (15.6%). Sources included private institutions (47.9%), public institutions (20.8%), physicians (12.5%), patient experiences (10.4%), and health channels (8.3%). Mean DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association, and GQS scores were 56.39 ± 14.18, 2.68 ± 0.83, and 3.74 ± 0.89, respectively. Physician-uploaded videos had the highest quality scores (DISCERN: 62.88, GQS: 4.13; P < 0.001), whereas patient-experience videos scored lowest. Popularity metrics showed no significant correlation with quality scores. Medulloblastoma-related YouTube videos generally exhibit moderate-to-high quality, with physician and public institution uploads providing the most reliable information. Given the weak association between popularity and quality, healthcare professionals and institutions should actively contribute accurate, evidence-based content to improve online health literacy.