title: Dermatology on YouTube.
abstract: YouTube, reaches upwards of six billion users on a monthly basis and is a unique source of information distribution and communication. Although the influence of YouTube on personal health decision-making is well established, this study assessed the type of content and viewership on a broad scope of dermatology related content on YouTube. Select terms (i.e. dermatology, sun protection, skin cancer, skin cancer awareness, and skin conditions) were searched on YouTube. Overall, the results included 100 videos with over 47 million viewers. Advocacy was the most prevalent content type at 24% of the total search results. These 100 videos were "shared" a total of 101,173 times and have driven 6,325 subscriptions to distinct YouTube user pages. Of the total videos, 35% were uploaded by or featured an MD/DO/PhD in dermatology or other specialty/field, 2% FNP/PA, 1% RN, and 62% other. As one of the most trafficked global sites on the Internet, YouTube is a valuable resource for dermatologists, physicians in other specialties, and the general public to share their dermatology-related content and gain subscribers. However, challenges of accessing and determining evidence-based data remain an issue.
authors.forename: Lindsay N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Boyers
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quest
authors.forename: Chante
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karimkhani
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Connett
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, US Department of Veterans Affairs.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057211:Webcasts as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*