A Double-Edged Sword: Quality and Credibility of Colon Cancer Screening Content on YouTube.

Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant public health challenge globally, with its pathogenesis involving the transformation of benign adenomas into malignant carcinomas. Despite advancements in screening and early detection significantly improving outcomes, the rise of digital platforms like YouTube for disseminating health information presents new challenges. Concerns over the accuracy and reliability of content underline the necessity for rigorous evaluation of these digital health education tools. Methods Our study was conducted at Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, New York. We meticulously analyzed YouTube videos on "colon cancer screening awareness," employing strict selection criteria to ensure both relevance and quality, focusing on English-language content with pertinent audio. Videos were evaluated for their quantitative and qualitative attributes-views, subscriber counts, likes/dislikes, comments, and content type, classifying them as scholarly or personal. We assessed video credibility through scientific accuracy using the DISCERN instrument, Global Quality Score (GQS), and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), ensuring consistency in quality and reliability evaluation among seven researchers via the intraclass correlation coefficient. These tools - DISCERN for assessing reliability and quality, GQS for evaluating overall quality, and PEMAT for understandability and actionability - facilitated a comprehensive evaluation framework. Our analysis, leveraging descriptive and inferential statistics, scrutinized differences in content quality between academic and private institutions, employing t-tests to identify statistically significant disparities. The study utilized Microsoft Excel (version 16.73, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 29.0 (released 2022; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). for robust data processing and analysis, confirming the educational value and trustworthiness of the examined YouTube content. Results Our study of 156 YouTube videos on educational content, split between academic (68 videos) and private sources (88 videos), revealed significant quality differences. Using the DISCERN, PEMAT, and GQS metrics, academic videos consistently outperformed private ones, with significant margins: DISCERN (54.61 vs. 34.76), PEMAT (3.02 vs. 2.11), and GQS (3.90 vs. 2.02), supported by low p-values indicating a statistically significant superiority. These findings suggest that the source of content-academic versus private-plays a crucial role in determining the quality and reliability of educational materials on platforms like YouTube, highlighting the academic sector's commitment to higher educational standards. Conclusion The study emphasizes the critical role of credible sources in enhancing the quality of health education content on YouTube, particularly concerning CRC screening. The superiority of academic institutions in providing high-quality content suggests a need for viewers to critically assess the source of information. It also calls for enhanced regulatory oversight and measures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of health information online.

Unpacking the Racial Gap: Helicobacter pylori Infection Clearance Among Different Racial Groups.

Introduction Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria causing chronic stomach infections, influenced by various factors, including host traits and bacterial virulence. It uses both urease-dependent and independent mechanisms to survive acidic gastric environments. Management entails diagnosis, treatment, and eradication verification. Combining drugs is key to overcoming resistance and ensuring bacteria elimination, thus preventing recurrence and complications. H. Pylori eradication mitigates gastric cancer risk and alleviates symptoms. Racial disparities persist despite declining H. pylori and gastric cancer incidence in the United States (US). African Americans (AA) have higher gastric cancer risks than non-Hispanic Whites. Addressing these disparities is crucial to protect high-risk populations. Methods This study retrospectively compiled H. pylori infection data from 2009 to 2022, categorized by race. Propensity score matching balanced initial group characteristics before analysis. Chi-squared and odds ratio tests were used on the cohort, with Kaplan Meier and Log Rank methods evaluating disease clearance in ethnic groups. Data were extracted from the Sunrise Electronic Medical Record software, including patient demographics, health details, and treatment specifics. Patients aged 18-65 with H. pylori infection at Nassau University Medical Center, who followed their treatment, were selected. Data were processed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and RStudio software. Results The study initially included 10,040 H. pylori-diagnosed patients, with 9,288 meeting the study's criteria after attrition. Predominantly female (64.7%), the cohort was racially diverse. A longer disease clearance time was noted among Hispanics (p=0.044). Binomial logistic regression analysis identified influential factors like high school graduation rates, poverty level income, and language proficiency on disease clearance. An odds ratio analysis further emphasized language barriers (HR 0.346, p=0.043) and education status (HR 0.756, p=0.025) as primary covariates impacting disease clearance, underlining the role of socio-economic factors and language proficiency in health outcomes. Conclusion The study highlights racial disparities in H. pylori clearance rates, particularly among Hispanics, necessitating culturally sensitive interventions. It advocates for improved diagnostics, increased healthcare access, and social determinants of health-focused initiatives. It identifies socio-economic status and language proficiency as key factors impacting health outcomes, calling for actions to bridge these disparities. Addressing these differences can decrease healthcare inequalities and economic burden, improving overall health outcomes and reducing costs associated with H. pylori clearance.

National Rise of Primary Pancreatic Carcinoid Tumors: Comparison to Functional and Nonfunctional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

BACKGROUND: New guidelines recommend differentiating between carcinoid and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) during clinical trials. However, little is known about the behavior and incidence of primary pancreatic carcinoid tumors. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to identify adults with primary PNETs diagnosed between 2004 and 2013. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate overall survival, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the hazard of death in resected patients. RESULTS: Of 10,752 patients, 12.7% were diagnosed with carcinoid tumors, 84.7% with nonfunctional and 2.6% with functional PNETs. Although the number of functional PNETs has remained relatively constant over time, rates of nonfunctional and carcinoid tumors have risen dramatically. Only 36 (5.7%) carcinoid tumors were diagnosed in 2004; this increased to 497 (27.7%) in 2013. Overall survival was significantly longer for carcinoid compared with functional and nonfunctional tumors (log-rank p < 0.0001), with 5-year survival rates of 63.1%, 58.3%, and 52.6%, respectively. For patients having resection, overall survival further improved for carcinoid tumors relative to functional (log-rank p = 0.0011) and nonfunctional (log-rank p < 0.0001) tumors, but the survival difference between functional and nonfunctional tumors disappeared (log-rank p = 0.4579); 5-year survival rates were 89.2%, 76.6%, and 78.7%, respectively. On multivariate Cox regression of the resected cohort, mortality was significantly higher for patients with functional (hazard ratio [HR] 1.81) and nonfunctional (HR 1.40) PNETs compared with carcinoid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Primary pancreatic carcinoid tumors are increasingly being diagnosed. Differentiating PNET subtypes plays an important role in prognostication. Resection remains a critical component of care.

Keeping it in the family: the impact of marital status and next of kin on cancer treatment and survival.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the impact of marriage and next of kin identity on timing of diagnosis, treatment, and survival in cancer patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with 5 solid tumor types treated at an academic medical center from 2002 to 2012. Exposures of interest were marriage status at time of diagnosis and familial relationship with next of kin (NOK). Association with overall survival determined via Cox regressions and with early diagnosis (stage I to II) and receipt of surgery via logistic regressions. RESULTS: Marriage was not associated with early diagnosis for any cancer type. After adjustment, being married was associated with significantly higher odds of receiving surgery only for pancreatic cancer and with improved survival for breast and lung cancers. Having a nuclear relationship with NOK was not associated with any outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Marriage status was associated with improved outcomes for certain cancers whereas familial relationship with NOK was not.