YouTube as a source of patient information for abdominal aortic aneurysms

An analysis of YouTube videos as educational resources for dental practitioners to prevent the spread of COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported on 31 December 2019 and has rapidly been spreading day by day. Dental patients and professionals have a high risk of the coronavirus infection and also have a huge responsibility to prevent its spread during emergency dental treatment over the period of the COVID-19 outbreak.

AIM

Informing patients and dental practitioners about the novel coronavirus in an accurate and effective way is very important. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of dentistry-related medical information about COVID-19 on YouTube as educational resources for dental practitioners.

METHODS

YouTube was queried for the search phrases 'COVID-19 and dental practice', 'SARS-Cov-2 and dental practice' and '2019-COV-2 and dental practice'. The first 100 videos for each term were viewed and analysed by 3 independent investigators. The scope was limited to videos in English.

RESULTS

The search phrases yielded 1102 videos, among which 802 videos were excluded and 300 videos screened. Fifty-five videos were included in the final analysis. Of the 55 videos, only 2 videos (3.6%) were found to be of good quality, while 24 videos (43.6%) were found to be of poor quality.

CONCLUSION

YouTube is a popular video broadcast site and can provide both relevant educational information and the spreading of misinformation. Health professionals should play a more active role with regard to educative information given on social media, especially YouTube, during global disease outbreaks.

Evaluating YouTube as a Source of Patient Information for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of information presented on YouTube regarding functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for patients.

METHODS

YouTube was searched using FESS-specific keywords under the setting of "relevance." The first 50 videos from each keyword were reviewed and analyzed by 2 independent physician reviewers. Videos not related to FESS and duplicates were excluded. Outcome measures included the modified DISCERN score (range 0-5), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (range: 0-4), a novel scoring checklist for FESS assessing usefulness (range: 0-16), and the Video Power Index (VPI). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated.

RESULTS

Of the 200 videos identified, 95 videos were analyzed after exclusions. Videos had an average VPI of 40.8 and SD 133.2. Average scores from the 3 objective checklists among all videos were low: modified DISCERN: 1.91, SD: 1.15; JAMA benchmark: 1.91, SD: 0.76; and FESS score: 3.54, SD: 1.77. The ICC between the 2 independent reviewers was excellent for all 3 checklists. We noted significant positive Pearson correlation between all 3 checklist scores (P < .001). In between-group comparisons of mean scores, there was significantly higher DISCERN and JAMA scores for videos from university/professional organizations, as compared to videos from medical advertising/for-profit companies and independent users. There were no significant differences in FESS scores noted between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSION

There were overall low scores across the modified DISCERN, JAMA benchmark criteria, and FESS scoring checklists, reflecting the poor quality of YouTube videos as a source of patient information for FESS.

Youtube as an Information Source During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: Evaluation of the Turkish and English Content

INTRODUCTION

YouTube is an important online source of information and has two billion users globally. Its viewing numbers tend to increase exponentially in extraordinary global situations. Our aim in this study was to review and evaluate the contents of the most frequently viewed YouTube videos during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  Methods: In this qualitative study, contents of the most frequently viewed Turkish and English YouTube videos regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were examined and scored with modified DISCERN, medical information and content index (MICI), and video power index (VPI) during April 2020.

RESULTS

The mean DISCERN score of Turkish videos was similar to that of English videos (2.55±1.40 and 2.43±1.25, respectively). The total MICI score tended to be higher in Turkish videos. News channels released 86.9% of all 168 videos and 65.2% of all 23 misleading videos. When the descriptive characteristics of videos were compared in terms of their content category, average view counts, view ratios, and VPIs of misleading videos were higher than those of the useful videos. Only, the likes ratio of useful videos was higher than that of the misleading videos.

CONCLUSIONS

Since there is no peer-review system on YouTube, people can almost release every type of video. It is very important for the content of videos that are released through news channels to be accurate because the important messages can be spread among people in society through them. In our study, especially some Turkish videos included many different rumors and faulty statements. During the extraordinary situations such as the pandemic, the videos of official health authorities and international institutions should be more visible on YouTube.

Evaluation of Korean-Language COVID-19-Related Medical Information on YouTube: Cross-Sectional Infodemiology Study

Background

In South Korea, the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases has declined rapidly and much sooner than in other countries. South Korea is one of the most digitalized countries in the world, and YouTube may have served as a rapid delivery mechanism for increasing public awareness of COVID-19. Thus, the platform may have helped the South Korean public fight the spread of the disease.

Objective

The aim of this study is to compare the reliability, overall quality, title–content consistency, and content coverage of Korean-language YouTube videos on COVID-19, which have been uploaded by different sources.

Methods

A total of 200 of the most viewed YouTube videos from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2020, were screened, searching in Korean for the terms “Coronavirus,” “COVID,” “Corona,” “Wuhan virus,” and “Wuhan pneumonia.” Non-Korean videos and videos that were duplicated, irrelevant, or livestreamed were excluded. Source and video metrics were collected. The videos were scored based on the following criteria: modified DISCERN index, Journal of the American Medical Association Score (JAMAS) benchmark criteria, global quality score (GQS), title–content consistency index (TCCI), and medical information and content index (MICI).

Results

Of the 105 total videos, 37.14% (39/105) contained misleading information; independent user–generated videos showed the highest proportion of misleading information at 68.09% (32/47), while all of the government-generated videos were useful. Government agency–generated videos achieved the highest median score of DISCERN (5.0, IQR 5.0-5.0), JAMAS (4.0, IQR 4.0-4.0), GQS (4.0, IQR 3.0-4.5), and TCCI (5.0, IQR 5.0-5.0), while independent user–generated videos achieved the lowest median score of DISCERN (2.0, IQR 1.0-3.0), JAMAS (2.0, IQR 1.5-2.0), GQS (2.0, IQR 1.5-2.0), and TCCI (3.0, IQR 3.0-4.0). However, the total MICI was not significantly different among sources. “Transmission and precautionary measures” were the most commonly covered content by government agencies, news agencies, and independent users. In contrast, the most mentioned content by news agencies was “prevalence,” followed by “transmission and precautionary measures.”

Conclusions

Misleading videos had more likes, fewer comments, and longer running times than useful videos. Korean-language YouTube videos on COVID-19 uploaded by different sources varied significantly in terms of reliability, overall quality, and title–content consistency, but the content coverage was not significantly different. Government-generated videos had higher reliability, overall quality, and title–content consistency than independent user–generated videos.

Do 'Videos' sections of Internet search engines provide accurate and adequate information about totally implantable venous access ports?

OBJECTIVE

After cancer diagnosis, patients often look to Internet to learn more about totally implantable venous access ports which improve compliance with systemic anticancer therapy, as they do not get enough information from healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the video quality on Internet about totally implantable venous access ports using the most used three Internet search engines worldwide.

METHODS

'Videos' sections of the most used three Internet search engines were queried using 'Chemotherapy Port', 'Port Catheter' and 'Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports' keywords. First, 50 results of each keyword in each search engine were analysed and evaluated according to a novel scoring system created by authors (totally implantable venous access port video evaluation score), Journal of the American Medical Association score and modified DISCERN score by independent reviewers. Obtained data were analysed by descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Of the 450 videos, 229 were evaluated. The total video length was 1394.38 min. The mean video length was 6.08 ± 5.39 min, and the mean video view count was 32,553.71 ± 83,524.23. Mean Journal of the American Medical Association score, modified DISCERN score and totally implantable venous access port video evaluation score were 2.33 ± 0.90, 2.43 ± 1.59 and 3.54 ± 3.47, respectively. According to totally implantable venous access port video evaluation score, of the videos, 1.3% were remarkable, 5.2% were useful, 25.8% were poor and 67.7% were useless. Of the videos, 36.7% have been presented by healthcare professionals. Mean Journal of the American Medical Association score, modified DISCERN score and totally implantable venous access port video evaluation score of these videos were 3.11 ± 0.68, 3.97 ± 0.93 and 4.69 ± 4.25, respectively (p = 0.000, p = 0.000 and p = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Internet search engines' 'Videos' sections have the potential of providing information about totally implantable venous access ports. However, they are vulnerable to providing unreliable information. This study has showed that videos about totally implantable venous access ports are insufficient in terms of reliability and integrity and may mislead patients.

YouTube™ as a source of information for Candida auris infection: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Candida auris is a novel Candida species, and has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant health care-associated fungal pathogen. YouTube™ (http://www.youtube.com) as the largest free video-sharing website is increasingly used to search health information. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the content, reliability and quality of YouTube™ videos regarding Candida auris infection, and to identify whether it is a useful resource for people.

METHODS

The YouTube™ was used to search systematically for videos using the keywords: "Candida auris infection" and "Candida auris". Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the videos. The videos were reviewed and scored by two independent reviewers and recorded the "title", "length", "views", "comments", "dislike", "like", "posted days" and "category of videos". The videos were categorized as "poor", "good" and "excellent" by the score. The DISCERN tool was used to assess the reliability of the YouTube™ videos.

RESULTS

Seventy-six videos were included in final analysis in our study. Most videos (59.2%, 55/76) had better quality. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in respect of the number of likes, dislikes, views, comments, percentage positivity, likebility, view rate and viewers' interaction. Length and posted days were significantly associated with the classification. The videos were categorized as "educational video", "new report", "personal experience and blog entertainment" and "interview". Significant differences were found in the source of videos and the characteristics of the individuals appearing in a video between the groups.

CONCLUSION

YouTube™ has striking potential to be an effective user-friendly learning interface for people to obtain information of Candida auris infection.

YouTube as a source of information on COVID-19: a pandemic of misinformation?

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic is this century’s largest public health emergency and its successful management relies on the effective dissemination of factual information. As a social media platform with billions of daily views, YouTube has tremendous potential to both support and hinder public health efforts. However, the usefulness and accuracy of most viewed YouTube videos on COVID-19 have not been investigated.

Methods

A YouTube search was performed on 21 March 2020 using keywords ‘coronavirus’ and ‘COVID-19’, and the top 75 viewed videos from each search were analysed. Videos that were duplicates, non-English, non-audio and non-visual, exceeding 1 hour in duration, live and unrelated to COVID-19 were excluded. Two reviewers coded the source, content and characteristics of included videos. The primary outcome was usability and reliability of videos, analysed using the novel COVID-19 Specific Score (CSS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) and modified JAMA (mJAMA) scores.

Results

Of 150 videos screened, 69 (46%) were included, totalling 257 804 146 views. Nineteen (27.5%) videos contained non-factual information, totalling 62 042 609 views. Government and professional videos contained only factual information and had higher CSS than consumer videos (mean difference (MD) 2.21, 95% CI 0.10 to 4.32, p=0.037); mDISCERN scores than consumer videos (MD 2.46, 95% CI 0.50 to 4.42, p=0.008), internet news videos (MD 2.20, 95% CI 0.19 to 4.21, p=0.027) and entertainment news videos (MD 2.57, 95% CI 0.66 to 4.49, p=0.004); and mJAMA scores than entertainment news videos (MD 1.21, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.36, p=0.033) and consumer videos (MD 1.27, 95% CI 0.10 to 2.44, p=0.028). However, they only accounted for 11% of videos and 10% of views.

Conclusion

Over one-quarter of the most viewed YouTube videos on COVID-19 contained misleading information, reaching millions of viewers worldwide. As the current COVID-19 pandemic worsens, public health agencies must better use YouTube to deliver timely and accurate information and to minimise the spread of misinformation. This may play a significant role in successfully managing the COVID-19 pandemic.