ASPO Abstracts
“But I saw it on YouTube…” A descriptive study of sunscreen (mis)guidance on YouTube
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Lifestyles Behavior, Energy Balance & Chemoprevention
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Purpose: To examine the frequency and quality of information about sunscreen on YouTube by video source. Methods: In Nov. 2017, researchers identified the top 20 YouTube videos using sorting strategies Relevance and View Count for each of five search terms: sunscreen health, sunscreen Information, sunscreen natural, sunscreen ingredients and sunscreen cancer. Inclusion criteria were English language and view count greater than 1,000 (N = 115 unique videos). Videos were coded by source, content type, valence toward sunscreen use, scientific source citation and presence or absence of 6 positive and 2 negative reference standards for effective sunscreen use. Videos with negative valence were also coded for recommendation of alternative sun protection strategies. Results: Videos were most frequently uploaded by end users with a financial interest (31%) and healthcare providers (HCP) (22%). Federal agencies (CDC, FDA) and cancer prevention organizations were not represented among the sources based on these search terms, a finding which has implications for search optimization strategies used in YouTube communication. Conclusion: YouTube features videos with accurate information about effective sunscreen uses, but HCP as a video source cannot be used as a heuristic for scientific quality. Videos advocating disuse of sunscreen frequently featured individuals identifying as healthcare providers.
Keywords: Sunscreen, YouTube, Information