title: YouTube as a source of information on mouth (oral) cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the content of YouTube(™) videos on mouth (oral) cancer and evaluated their usefulness in promoting early detection of oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of YouTube(™) for videos containing information on mouth cancer was conducted using the keywords 'mouth cancer' and 'oral cancer'. Demographics of videos, including type, source, length, and viewers' interaction, were evaluated, and three researchers independently assessed the videos for usefulness in promoting early detection of oral cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 188 YouTube(™) videos (152 patient-oriented educational videos and 36 testimonial videos) were analyzed. The overall usefulness score ranged from 0 to 10 (mean = 3.56 ± 2.44). The most useful videos ranked late on the viewing list, and there was no significant correlation between video usefulness and viewing rate, viewers' interaction, and video length. Videos uploaded by individual users were less useful compared with videos uploaded by professional organizations or by healthcare professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare professionals, academic institutions, and professional organizations have a responsibility for improving the content of YouTube(™) about mouth cancer by uploading useful videos, and directing patients to reliable information sources.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordon.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hassona
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, The University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordon.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taimeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, The University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordon.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marahleh
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health-General Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D063545:Personal Narratives as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D061108:Social Media; D014495:Universities; D014741:Video Recording / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Internet; YouTube; cancer; education; health; media; mouth; oral; patient; video