Abstract
Background Educational resources on the internet are extensively used to obtain medical information.
YouTube is the most accessed video platform containing information to enhance the
learning experience of medical professionals. This study systematically analyzed the
educational value of microsurgery-related videos on this platform.
Methods A systematic review was conducted on YouTube from April 18 to May 18, 2020, using
the following terms: “microsurgery,” “microsurgical,” “microsurgical anastomosis,”
“free flap,” and “free tissue transfer.” The search was limited to the first 100 videos,
and two independent reviewers screened for eligible entries and analyzed their educational
value using validated scales, including a modified version of the DISCERN score (M-DISCERN),
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMAS) benchmark criteria, and the Global Quality Score (GQS). Evaluation of video
popularity was also assessed with the video power index (VPI).
Results Of 356 retrieved videos, 75 (21%) were considered eligible. The educational quality
of videos was highly variable, and the mean global scores for the M-DISCERN, JAMAS,
and GQS for our sample were consistent with medium to low quality.
Conclusions A limited number of videos on YouTube for microsurgical education have high-educational
quality. The majority scored low on the utilized criteria. Peer-reviewed resources
seem to be a more reliable resource. Although the potential of YouTube should not
be disregarded, videos should be carefully appraised before being used as an educational
resource.
Keywords
education - microsurgery - video - evaluation - training
