How to Peddle Hope: An Analysis of YouTube Patient Testimonials of Unproven Stem Cell Treatments

Bethany Hawke; Alexandra R. Przybylo; Danielle Paciulli; Timothy Caulfield; Amy Zarzeczny; Zubin Master

Stem Cell Reports (Jun 2019)

How to Peddle Hope: An Analysis of YouTube Patient Testimonials of Unproven Stem Cell Treatments

Bethany Hawke,
Alexandra R. Przybylo,
Danielle Paciulli,
Timothy Caulfield,
Amy Zarzeczny,
Zubin Master

Affiliations

Bethany Hawke: EmSTAT, Upstate Medical University, 550 East Genesee Street, Suite 103, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
Alexandra R. Przybylo: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond, VCU Health, PO BOX 980264, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
Danielle Paciulli: School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, # Mmc88, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Timothy Caulfield: Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, School of Public Health and Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, 461 Law Centre, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5, Canada
Amy Zarzeczny: Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina, 3rd Floor, 2155 College Avenue, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
Zubin Master: Biomedical Ethics Research Program and Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 6
pp. 1186 – 1189

Abstract

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Providers capitalize on patient testimonials to market unproven stem cell treatments (SCTs). We evaluated 159 YouTube videos and found patients discussed health improvements (91.2%), praised providers (53.5%), and recommended SCTs (28.9%). In over a third of the videos, providers posed questions to patients, thereby directing narratives and making them a powerful marketing tool.

Published in Stem Cell Reports

ISSN: 2213-6711 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General); Science: Biology (General)
Website: http://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/home

About the journal