Quality and reliability of cancer- and tumor-related videos on YouTube: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Cancer imposes a heavy burden on society, and YouTube has become an important channel for the public to access health information; however, the quality of cancer-related videos on YouTube varies widely. Furthermore, there is currently a lack of systematic reviews on the quality of cancer-related videos on this platform. Objectives To systematically review the current state of research on the evaluation of the quality and reliability of cancer- and tumor-related videos on YouTube; to analyze trends in video quality, patterns of evaluation tool usage, the impact of uploader types on quality, and the relationship between quality and popularity. Methods A scoping review approach was adopted. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, CNKI, and the VIP database, covering the period from the inception of each database to June 1, 2026. We included original studies that evaluated the quality of cancer- and tumor-related videos on YouTube. Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted data, with an additional independent reviewer assisting in the decision-making process. Results A total of 54 studies were included, collectively analyzing a cumulative total of 5,051 individual video observations across 21 cancer-related topics. The proportion of studies reporting high-quality video samples increased descriptively from 0% in 2018–2019 to 31.3% in 2023–2025. GQS (35 instances), original DISCERN (27 instances), modified DISCERN (21 instances), and JAMA (18 instances) were the most commonly used evaluation tools. Most studies comparing uploader types reported higher quality scores for videos from healthcare professionals or institutions. Conclusion The overall quality of cancer- and tumor-related videos on YouTube was generally low. The proportion of studies reporting moderate- or high-quality video samples was descriptively greater in more recent periods. Most studies comparing uploader types reported higher quality scores for videos from healthcare professionals or institutions. Greater professional involvement and platform-level strategies to identify and promote trustworthy health information may improve the educational value of these videos.