YouTube as a source of (mis)information on allergic rhinitis

Artificial intelligence and allergic rhinitis: does ChatGPT increase or impair the knowledge?

BACKGROUND

Optimal management of allergic rhinitis requires patient education with easy access to accurate information. However, previous online platforms have provided misleading information. The demand for online medical information continues to grow, especially with the introduction of advanced chatbots like ChatGPT.

METHODS

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of information provided by ChatGPT regarding allergic rhinitis. A Likert scale was used to assess the accuracy of responses, ranging from 1 to 5. Four authors independently rated the responses from a healthcare professional's perspective.

RESULTS

A total of 20 questions covering various aspects of allergic rhinitis were asked. Among the answers, eight received a score of 5 (no inaccuracies), five received a score of 4 (minor non-harmful inaccuracies), six received a score of 3 (potentially misinterpretable inaccuracies) and one answer had a score of 2 (minor potentially harmful inaccuracies).

CONCLUSIONS

The variability in accuracy scores highlights the need for caution when relying solely on chatbots like ChatGPT for medical advice. Patients should consult qualified healthcare professionals and use online sources as a supplement. While ChatGPT has advantages in medical information delivery, its use should be approached with caution. ChatGPT can be useful for patient education but cannot replace healthcare professionals.

Online public concern about allergic rhinitis and its association with COVID-19 and air quality in China: an informative epidemiological study using Baidu index

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis is a common health concern that affects quality of life. This study aims to examine the online search trends of allergic rhinitis in China before and after the COVID-19 epidemic and to explore the association between the daily air quality and online search volumes of allergic rhinitis in Beijing.

METHODS

We extracted the online search data of allergic rhinitis-related keywords from the Baidu index database from January 23, 2017 to June 23, 2022. We analyzed and compared the temporal distribution of online search behaviors across different themes of allergic rhinitis before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, using the Baidu search index (BSI). We also obtained the air quality index (AQI) data in Beijing and assessed its correlation with daily BSIs of allergic rhinitis.

RESULTS

The online search for allergic rhinitis in China showed significant seasonal variations, with two peaks each year in spring from March to May and autumn from August and October. The BSI of total allergic rhinitis-related searches increased gradually from 2017 to 2019, reaching a peak in April 2019, and declined after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the first half of 2020. The BSI for all allergic rhinitis themes was significantly lower after the COVID-19 pandemic than before (all p values < 0.05). The results also revealed that, in Beijing, there was a significant negative association between daily BSI and AQI for each allergic rhinitis theme during the original variant strain epidemic period and a significant positive correlation during the Omicron variant period.

CONCLUSION

Both air quality and the interventions used for COVID-19 pandemic, including national and local quarantines and mask wearing behaviors, may have affected the incidence and public concern about allergic rhinitis in China. The online search trends can serve as a valuable tool for tracking real-time public concerns about allergic rhinitis. By complementing traditional disease monitoring systems of health departments, these search trends can also offer insights into the patterns of disease outbreaks. Additionally, they can provide references and suggestions regarding the public's knowledge demands related to allergic rhinitis, which can further be instrumental in developing targeted strategies to enhance population-based disease education on allergic diseases.

Allergy and Immunology Physician and Patient (Un)Wellness During COVID-19 and Beyond: Lessons for the Future

The COVID-19 pandemic increased stress and reduced wellness for patients and physicians alike. The uncertainty, frequent changes, fear of illness and death, and supply chain issues taxed an already broken health care system. The pandemic undermined the factors that allow for a healthy workplace: control, predictability, and certainty. During this time, rates of depression, suicidality, and anxiety all increased among physicians and the community at large. These challenges were aggravated by disagreements regarding masking and vaccinations. These factors, as well as the degree to which people felt valued or not also contributed to burnout. Some changes such as the transition to telemedicine, although initially stressful, led to patient satisfaction and allowed clinical care to continue. Other changes, such as trying to homeschool, or watching young children while also trying to work were less desirable. Patients and physicians did their best to combat isolation, fear, anxiety, and the numerous societal changes. Burnout fluctuated throughout the pandemic related to local and systemic factors such as rates of infection, vaccination, supply chain issues, and individual support. The pandemic highlighted problems with our health care system, including structural racism, health care disparities, and how easily the system can be overwhelmed. Physicians may have been thrown into roles they did not feel comfortable filling and may have had insufficient staff to practice in the way they wanted. These factors led to frustration among patients and physicians alike. The National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being outlines the need for health care reform to allow for effective and safe health care while protecting clinicians from burnout.

YouTube as a learning source for contact lens insertion and removal

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Contact lens neophytes often learn about contact lens insertion and removal through YouTube videos of unknown quality.

BACKGROUND

This study evaluates the quality of soft contact lens insertion and removal videos on YouTube.

METHODS

A search for the keywords 'Contact lens insertion', 'Contact lens removal', 'Put in contact lens', and 'Take off contact lens' was performed on YouTube. The first 50 videos for each keyword were evaluated. The number of views, source of the publisher, days since upload, and video quality were scored based on the content in the videos. The maximum score of insertion and removal videos were 7 and 5 respectively. The videos were classified into three groups by publisher category: videos published by eye care professionals, companies and YouTubers.

RESULTS

Only 45 contact lens insertion and 44 removal videos met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Insertion and removal videos published by YouTubers had the highest view and view rate. However, their quality scores were significantly lower than videos published by eye care professionals and companies. Videos uploaded by companies had the highest scores (insertion: 5.00 ± 1.10; removal: 3.25 ± 0.75). The mean scores of insertion and removal videos published by YouTubers were 1.65 ± 0.93 and 1.00 ± 0.89, respectively, while the insertion and removal videos uploaded by eye care professionals scored 3.58 ± 2.07 and 2.75 ± 1.53, respectively. There was also a negative correlation between the quality scores and view rate (p = 0.008, r = -0.41).

CONCLUSION

Contact lens insertion and removal videos uploaded by YouTubers had the highest view rate but the lowest quality. Videos made by companies included most essential elements.

Potential Allergenicity of Plants Used in Allergological Communication: An Untapped Tool for Prevention

Plants are often used to illustrate allergy-related medical products, services, patient information materials and news. The illustration of allergenic plants is an important tool in patient education, contributing to the prevention of pollinosis, as patients can recognize plants and avoid pollen exposure. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the pictorial content of allergy-related websites depicting plants. A total of 562 different photographs depicting plants were collected using image search, identified and categorized according to their potential allergenicity. Of the total 124 plant taxa, 25% of plants were identified to the genus level and a further 68% were identified to the species level. Plants with low allergenicity were found in 85.4% of the pictures, while plants of high allergenicity were shown in only 4.5% of the pictorial information. Brassica napus was the most frequent species identified (8.9% of the overall identified plants), while blooming Prunoidae, Chrysanthemum spp. and Taraxacum officinale were also common. Considering both allergological and design aspects, some plant species have been proposed for more professional and responsible advertising. The internet has the potential to provide visual support for patient education in allergenic plants, but emphasis must be put on the transmission of the correct visual message.

The usefulness, reliability, and quality of YouTube video clips on congenital muscular torticollis: A STROBE compliant study

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness, reliability, quality, and related characteristics of YouTube video clips on congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). This cross-sectional study analyzed 47 YouTube video clips on CMT. They were classified as either useful or misleading by 2 rehabilitation doctors. The modified DISCERN tool and the Global Quality Scale (GQS) were used to evaluate their reliability and quality. An analysis was conducted using the characteristics, such as presenters, ownership of YouTube channel accounts, countries, contents, and the video popularity. Of the 47 YouTube video clips, 8 (17%) were evaluated as misleading, which indicated that they included at least one scientifically unproven piece of information on CMT or more. They were less reliable and of lower quality than the useful video clips. The video clips presented by healthcare professionals were more useful compared to those presented by others (P = .015). However, the video popularity was not related to its usefulness. The reliability and quality (3.70 ± 0.82 vs 0.75 ± 0.50 and 2.95 ± 1.21 vs 1.50 ± 1.00) assessed by the modified DISCERN tool and GQS, respectively, were significantly higher in the video clips presented by healthcare professionals compared to those presented by others. There were misleading YouTube video clips on CMT. Video clips presented by healthcare professionals could be more useful, reliable, and of better quality. The popularity of the video clips does not indicate more usefulness, reliability, and better quality. YouTube viewers should be aware of these findings. We recommend that the viewers preferentially choose video clips on CMT presented by healthcare professionals, not by the video popularity.