# Evaluating the quality of online resources for patient education on robotic esophagectomy

## TL;DR

This study finds that online videos about robotic esophagectomy are more useful for surgeons than patients, highlighting a need for better patient education resources.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the quality of YouTube videos as patient education resources for robotic esophagectomy using the DISCERN tool.

## Key findings

- 80% of 60 YouTube videos were included in the analysis.
- Average DISCERN score was 1.3 ± 0.57, indicating poor quality for patient education.
- Content is more suitable for surgical education than patient education.

## Abstract

Robotic approaches have gained popularity in recent years, with multiple studies showing improved short- and long-term outcomes with this technique for esophagectomy. Educational resources should be assessed to ensure patients are knowledgeable about the treatment modalities that are available. Our aim is to evaluate whether online content is a reliable source of patient educational material for robotic esophagectomy. A YouTube query was performed for: “Robot Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy.” The first 60 videos were evaluated by two independent reviewers and scored using the DISCERN tool. Of the 60 videos reviewed, 48 (80%) were included. The average DISCERN score for the videos was 1.3 ± 0.57 (SD), with a score > 3 being good for patient education and ≤ 3 being poor. The content available on YouTube for education about robotic esophagectomy is better suited for surgical education. This underscores a significant opportunity to improve patient education resources for the betterment of shared decision making.