Background: The prolonged immobilization suggested after breast cancer (BC) surgery causes morbidity. Patients search the Internet, especially social networks, for recommended exercises.
Objective: The aim of this observational study was to assess the quality of YouTube videos, accessible for any patient, about exercises after BC surgery.
Methods: A systematic search was performed on YouTube. One hundred and fifty videos were selected and analyzed. Two statistical analyses were conducted based on machine-learning techniques. Videos were classified as "Relevant" and "Non-Relevant" using principal component analysis models. Popularity was evaluated by Video Power Index (VPI), informational quality and accuracy were measured using the DISCERN Scale and Global Quality Scale (GQS). Scoring criteria for exercises were established according to the exercises recommended by the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Interobserver agreement and individual correlations were statistically examined.
Results: DISCERN scored a mean of 50.97 (standard deviation [SD] 19.19). HONcode scored 78.30 (11.02) and GQS scored 3.49 (0.74). Average number of views was 53,963 (SD 67,376), mean duration was 9:42 min (9:15), mean days online was 2,158 (922), mean view ratio was 27.14 (30.24), mean likes was 245 (320.5), mean dislikes was 13.4 (14.2), and mean VPI was 93.48 (5.42).
Conclusion: The quality of YouTube videos of recommended exercises post-BC surgery is high and can be a translational activity to improve patients' behavior. Health institutions and NGOs, with higher popularity levels than academic institutions, should consider this information when implementing new policies focused on video quality which can contribute to adaptive behavior in patients.
Keywords: Breast cancer; Exercises; Healthy behavior; Public health; Shoulder; YouTube.
Copyright © 2021 by S. Karger AG, Basel.