Physicians across the country are turning to YouTube to prepare for surgeries or to learn how to operate a device they don't have much training on, according to CNBC.
Justin Barad, MD, is among these physicians. After undergoing surgical training at the University of California Los Angeles, Dr. Barad now goes to YouTube to prep before a procedure. Dr. Barad will even watch videos in the operating theater if he has a challenging surgery or unexpected complication.
YouTube is filled with videos of medical procedures. And the number of videos is only skyrocketing.
However, one issue with these videos is that there is no quality control. YouTube does not regulate which videos are valid and those that are filled with misguided information. In one study of more than 68,000 videos associated with a distal radius fracture immobilization procedure, only 16 videos met the standard criteria, reports CNBC.
Other studies have shown YouTube's algorithm positively ranks videos where techniques are not satisfactory.
Dr. Joshua Landy, a Canadian physician, recommends paying physicians to vet surgical videos. However, until any groups are made to investigate videos, physicians are asked to check if videos are associated with hospitals or medical societies.
YouTube did not return CNBC's request for comment and Google Health declined to comment.