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

YouTube as a source of information on reactive arthritis: a quality analysis

OBJECTIVE

YouTube is often used by patients and healthcare professionals to obtain medical information. Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis triggered by infection, usually in the genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract. However, the accuracy and quality of ReA-related information on YouTube are not fully known. This study aimed to assess the reliability and quality of YouTube videos pertaining to ReA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A YouTube search was performed on August 1, 2023, using the keywords "reactive arthritis," "Reiter's disease," and "Reiter's syndrome." The number of days since upload; the number of views, likes, and comments; and the duration of videos were recorded. The modified DISCERN tool (mDISCERN) and the global quality scale (GQS) were used to evaluate the reliability and quality of the videos. Two physicians independently classified videos as low, moderate, or high quality and rated them on a five-point GQS (1 = poor quality, 5 = excellent quality). The source of videos was also noted.

RESULTS

Of the 180 videos screened, 68 met the inclusion criteria. The most common topic (61, 89.7%) was "ReA overview." Among the 68 videos analyzed, the main source of uploads was physicians 45 (66.2%), and 66 (97%) were categorized as useful. Around half of the YouTube videos about ReA were of high quality (33, 48.5%) according to the GQS. Upon comparing videos uploaded by rheumatologists, non-rheumatology healthcare professionals, and independent users, significant differences were found in mDISCERN and GQS but not in the number of views, likes, and comments or duration. Upon comparing high-, moderate-, and low-quality videos, significant differences were found in the number of views, likes, and comments; duration; and in mDISCERN and GQS.

CONCLUSION

YouTube is a source of information on ReA of variable quality, with wide viewership and the potential to influence patients' knowledge and behavior. Our results showed that most YouTube videos on ReA were of high quality. Videos presented by physicians had higher quality. YouTube should consider avoiding low-quality videos by using validity scales such as mDISCERN and GQS.

Teaching critical thinking about health information and choices in secondary schools: human-centred design of digital resources

Background

Learning to thinking critically about health information and choices can protect people from unnecessary suffering, harm, and resource waste. Earlier work revealed that children can learn these skills, but printing costs and curricula compatibility remain important barriers to school implementation. We aimed to develop a set of digital learning resources for students to think critically about health that were suitable for use in Kenyan, Rwandan, and Ugandan secondary schools.

Methods

We conducted work in two phases collaborating with teachers, students, schools, and national curriculum development offices using a human-centred design approach. First, we conducted context analyses and an overview of teaching strategies, prioritised content and collected examples. Next, we developed lessons and guidance iteratively, informed by data from user-testing, individual and group interviews, and school pilots.

Results

Final resources include online lesson plans, teachers' guide, and extra resources, with lesson plans in two modes, for use in a classroom equipped with a blackboard/flip-chart and a projector. The resources are accessible offline for use when electricity or Internet is lacking. Teachers preferred the projector mode, as it provided structure and a focal point for class attention. Feedback was largely positive, with teachers and students appreciating the learning and experiencing it as relevant. Four main challenges included time to teach lessons; incorrect comprehension; identifying suitable examples; and technical, logistical, and behavioural challenges with a student-computer mode that we piloted. We resolved challenges by simplifying and combining lessons; increasing opportunities for review and assessment; developing teacher training materials, creating a searchable set of examples; and deactivating the student-computer mode.

Conclusion

Using a human-centred design approach, we created digital resources for teaching secondary school students to think critically about health actions and for training teachers. Be smart about your health resources are open access and can be translated or adapted to other settings.

Evaluation of the quality and content of YouTube videos as an educational resource in developing patients' inhaler use skills

BACKGROUND

YouTube has educational videos on inhalers. However, their content and quality are not adequately known.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the quality and content of educational YouTube videos on inhalers.

METHODS

This descriptive study analyzed 178 YouTube videos on inhalers between May and July 2022. Two researchers independently evaluated the videos. The Global Quality Score (GQS), Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, and Inhaler Application Checklist (IAC) were used to assess the quality and content of the videos. Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, ANOVA, and Post hoc analysis Bonferroni test were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The videos had a mean GQS score of 3.70 ± 1.24, and JAMA score of 2.22 ± 0.60. A negative correlation was between the quality score of the videos and views, likes, comments, duration, and likes/views (respectively; r = -0.237 p < 0.005, r = -0.217 p < 0.003, r = -0.220 p < 0.005, r = -0.147, p < 0.005). The videos narrated by nurses and doctors had significantly higher mean JAMA and GQS scores than others (p = 0.001). The videos missed some procedural steps [gargling (29.1%), adding no more than five ml of medication and device cleaning (41.9%), and exhaling through the nose (37.5%)]. Videos uploaded by individual missed significantly more procedural steps than professional organizations (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube videos about inhaler techniques have a moderate level of quality. Videos uploaded by doctors and nurses as content narrators were of higher quality. The videos missed some procedural steps. Individual video uploaders had higher missed procedural steps. Counseling should be provided to patients regarding the reliability of online information.

Preferred format and strategies for seeking and trusting online health information: a survey of cardiology outpatient attendees across three New Zealand hospitals

Introduction The volume and quality of online health information requires consumers to be discerning. Aim This study aimed to explore consumer Internet use for health information, preferred format and what factors helped them to trust the source. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016-2017 with adults attending three cardiology outpatient clinic sites using a short paper-based survey. The survey included questions regarding online health information use and perceived trustworthiness with opportunities for free text responses. Survey data were summarised with key questions adjusted by age group, gender and ethnicity using logistic regression. Results Of the 708 respondents (51% women, 66% aged 45-74 years, 16% Māori, 12% Pacific), 73% had sought health information online (64% in the previous 12 months), commonly for medication side effects, their health condition and self-help. Most (65%) were successful, although Pacific respondents reported a lower likelihood of search success compared to Europeans. Younger age groups were more concerned about information quality. Fact sheets (80%) were the most popular format and for all ethnic groups, followed by short videos (31%) and discussion groups (23%). Trusting online information required many strategies with 72% wanting health professionals to recommend websites. Discussion Online health information seeking is a norm for consumers, with simple fact sheets being the preferred format to build knowledge and skills. With the rising tide of misinformation, health portal providers need to offer accurate and easy-to-read fact sheets in their suite of formats and health professionals need to support consumers guiding them to trusted websites.

Information and health literacy policies during pandemics: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled governments globally to formulate policies addressing the unique needs of their populations. These policies are critical in disseminating accurate information and enhancing health literacy during crises.

OBJECTIVE

This narrative review aims to identify and assess effective information and health literacy policies implemented during pandemics.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed across five electronic information sources (PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, Emerald Insight, Scopus), supplemented by Google Scholar. The analysis employed Walt and Gilson's health policy triangle framework to categorize and evaluate the findings.

RESULTS

The review revealed that the policies could be grouped into several key categories: educational programs, laws and regulations, knowledge sharing, national programs, and different information sources. The development of these policies involved multifaceted processes influenced by political, scientific, economic, cultural and social factors, as well as the involvement of multiple stakeholders.

CONCLUSIONS

This review offers significant insights and actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders. By understanding the dimensions and components of effective information and health literacy policies, stakeholders can better prepare for and respond to future pandemics and similar health crises.

"Stay tuned": an exploratory content and thematic analysis of brain injury videos on YouTube

PURPOSE

This exploratory study aimed to examine brain injury videos on YouTube to determine who posted about brain injury, content categories of videos, and how brain injury was represented.

METHODS

A mixed methods approach was used. Brain injury videos on YouTube were collected in November 2022 and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Visual data analysis was used to generate visual descriptions of a representative sample of the videos, and these were thematically analysed alongside the video transcripts.

RESULTS

The sample of 100 YouTube videos consisted of educational, lived experience, and promotional videos. Medical organisations and hospitals were the predominant source of videos. An overarching theme of "Video tells a story" was generated from eighteen visual descriptions and transcripts which contained three major themes: (a) we choose how the story is told, (b) recovery is a process, and (c) it changed my life.

CONCLUSION

YouTube may have a storytelling role for both people with a brain injury wishing to share their story and for health professionals wishing to communicate information about brain injury. This research may have clinical implications for the integration of YouTube in brain injury rehabilitation and the use of YouTube for health communication.

Non-STEM majors COVID-19 vaccine impressions improve, and misconceptions resolve, after podcast assignment

Misinformation regarding vaccine science decreased the receptiveness to COVID-19 vaccines, exacerbating the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. To mitigate the negative societal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, impactful and creative science communication was needed, yet little research has explored how to encourage COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and address misconceptions held by non-Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors (referred to as non-majors). We have previously demonstrated that including expert guest lectures in the vaccine module in the non-major introductory biology course helps combat students' vaccine hesitancy. In the present study, we further address how learning about vaccines impacts student knowledge and impressions of the COVID-19 vaccines through a podcast assignment. As a part of this assignment, non-majors created podcasts to address COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions of their choice. We coded pre and post, open-ended essay reflections (n = 40) to assess non-majors' knowledge and impressions of the COVID-19 vaccines. Non-majors' impressions of the vaccines improved following the podcast assignment with more than three times as many students reporting a positive view of the assignment than negative views. Notably, eight of the nine interviewed students still ended the course with misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines, such as the vaccines being unnecessary or causing fertility issues. In a post semi-structured interview following this assignment, students (n = 7) discussed the impact of looking into the specific misconceptions related to COVID-19 vaccines themselves, including improved science communication skills and understanding of different perspectives. Thus, podcasts can provide opportunities for students to improve engagement in valuable societal topics like vaccine literacy in the non-majors classroom.

Video quality of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on TikTok: A cross-sectional study

The short-video application TikTok shows great potential for disseminating health information. We assessed the content, sources, and quality of information in videos related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on TikTok. Our study aims to identify upload sources, content, and characteristic information for NAFLD videos on TikTok and further evaluate factors related to video quality. We investigated the top 100 videos related to NAFLD on TikTok and analyzed the upload sources, content, and characteristics of these videos. Evaluate video quality using the DISCERN tool and Global Quality Score (GQS). In addition, the correlation between video quality and video characteristics is further studied. In terms of video sources, the majority of NAFLD videos on TikTok (85/100, 85%) were posted by doctors, ensuring the professionalism of the content, and among the video content, disease knowledge was the most dominant video content, accounting for 57% (57/100) of all videos, and the average DISCERN and GQS scores of all 100 videos were 39.59 (SD 3.31) and 2.99 (SD 0.95), respectively. DISCERN and GQS data show that videos related to NAFLD do not have high-quality scores on TikTok, mainly fair (68/100, 68%) and moderate (49/100, 49%). In general, the quality of NAFLD video information from professional content and professional sources was higher than that of nonprofessional sources and nonprofessional content, the video quality of general surgeons was better than that of other department physicians, and the video quality of junior physicians was better than that of senior physicians. In terms of video correlation, durations, the number of fans, and the total number of works were negatively correlated with DISCERN scores (R < 0, P < .05), while likes, comments, collections, shares, and days since upload were not significantly correlated with DISCERN and GQS scores (P > .05). The medical information on TikTok is not rigorous enough to guide patients to make accurate judgments, platforms should monitor and guide publishers to help promote and disseminate quality content.

Qualitative research on undergraduate nursing students' recognition and response to short videos' health disinformation

Background

With the popularity of the internet, short videos have become an indispensable tool to obtain health information. However, avoiding health disinformation owing to the openness of the Internet is difficult for users. Disinformation may endanger the health and lives of users.

Objective

With a focus on the process of identifying short videos' health disinformation and the factors affecting the accuracy of identification, this study aimed to investigate the identification methods, coping strategies, and the impact of short videos' health disinformation on undergraduate nursing students. The findings will provide guidance to users on obtaining high-quality and healthy information, in addition to reducing health risks.

Methods

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 undergraduate nursing students in October 2022, and data were collected for collation and content analyses.

Results

The techniques used to identify short videos that include health disinformation as well as how undergraduate nursing students perceived these videos' features are among the study's findings. The failure factors in identification, coping paths, and adverse impacts of short videos on health disinformation were analyzed. The platform, the material itself, and the students' individual characteristics all have an impact on their identifying behavior.

Conclusions

Medical students continue to face many obstacles in identifying and responding to health disinformation through short videos. Preventing and stopping health disinformation not only requires individual efforts to improve health literacy and maintain rational thinking, it also requires the joint efforts of short video producers, relevant departments, and platforms.

Concerns with OpenAI's Sora in Medicine

Open AI's Sora represents a ground-breaking innovation in AI that can generate lifelike and imaginative visual scenes based on text prompts. However, Sora has also produced some new concerns surrounding artificial video generation in medicine. While Sora is highly promising to enhance patient education, facilitate remote consultations and simulate surgical procedures, AI-generated videos also bring technical, legal, and ethical challenges. In this paper, we explore the clinical and ethical implications of Sora's AI-generated videos in the field of medicine.

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.

The Roles of Social Media Use and Medical Mistrust in Black Americans' COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The RISP Model Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to healthcare and public health messaging in the United States. One area of focus has been vaccination uptake among Black Americans, who have experienced COVID-19 deaths disproportionate to their share of the United States population, raising questions about the processes involved in vaccination perceptions and behaviors. Guided by the Risk Information Seeking and Processing model, this study explored the roles of medical mistrust and social media as a source of risk information in Black Americans' vaccine hesitancy. Survey results from a YouGov panel sample of Black Americans (n = 1,136; 53.5% female) showed that social media use and medical mistrust were positively associated with belief in misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine, which, in turn, was positively related to vaccine hesitancy through perceived information insufficiency and information seeking intentions. Furthermore, we found that belief in misinformation and subjective norms toward anti-vaccination also serially mediated the association between social media use and medical mistrust with vaccine hesitancy. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Conflict among experts in health recommendations and corresponding public trust in health experts

Importance

Public trust in health experts has been decreasing leading to decreased adherence to expert recommendations.

Objective

To evaluate public perceptions of conflict and uncertainty among experts in healthcare recommendations and association with decreased trust in health entities for accurate health information.

Methods

Analysis of the US nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6-2022). Adults aged 18 and older were respondents to the survey (unweighted n = 5,842, representing 241 million adults). The main outcome was trust in doctors, scientists and government health agencies for health information. Analyses examined trust in experts with public perceptions of conflict about recommendations and changing recommendations.

Results

There was high trust in doctors for health information (95%) versus 84% in scientists and 70% in government health agencies. Only 18% have high trust in the health information on social media. Respondents who felt expert recommendations change often were less likely to have high trust (65%) in government agencies compared to those who felt that the recommendations did not often change (82%) (p < 0.01). In logistic regressions controlling for age, sex, race, education, income and trust in social media for health information perceptions of low conflict among expert health recommendations is associated with likelihood of high trust in government health agencies (OR 2.86; 95% CI 1.96-4.15).

Conclusion

The public has low trust in government health agencies and perceptions of conflict among experts over recommendations is likely playing a role in the erosion of trust in health experts.

A cross-sectional analysis of the content and quality of presurgical infant orthopedics videos on YouTube

BACKGROUND

Caregivers seeking additional information about Presurgical Infant Orthopedics (PSIO) may turn to online sources, but the quality of information on platforms like YouTube is uncertain.

AIM

To investigate the content and quality of PSIO videos on YouTube.

DESIGN

YouTube videos were searched using keywords related to PSIO appliances. Videos that met the eligibility criteria (n = 52) were categorized as care provider or caregiver-based. Engagement metrics were analyzed and quality assessments were performed by two raters using the Global Quality Score (GQS), Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI), and Medical Quality Video Evaluation Tool (MQ-VET).

RESULTS

Inter-rater and intra-rater correlations were high (r ≥0.9; p < 0.01), indicating excellent reliability. Strong correlations were observed between the GQS, VIQI, and MQ-VET scores (r: 0.86-0.91; p < 0.01). Mean GQS (2.7 ± 1.1), VIQI (13.0 ± 4.1), and MQ-VET (42.6 ± 12.4) scores indicated poor to moderate video quality. Most videos (73.1%) were in the care provider category and rated significantly higher (p < 0.05) in quality than the caregiver category for all three indices, but not for video engagement metrics.

CONCLUSION

YouTube PSIO videos are not comprehensive and lack quality. Caregivers of infants undertaking PSIO should seek advice from care providers and not rely solely on YouTube videos.

Bruxism treatment on Youtube: evaluating reliability and information accuracy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the content and quality of videos about bruxism treatments on YouTube, a platform frequently used by patients today to obtain information.

METHODS

A YouTube search was performed using the keywords "bruxism treatment" and "teeth grinding treatment". "The sort by relevance" filter was used for both search terms and the first 150 videos were saved. A total of 139 videos that met the study criteria were included in the study. Videos were classified as poor, moderate or excellent based on a usefulness score that evaluated content quality. The modified DISCERN tool was also used to evaluate video quality. Additionally, videos were categorized according to the upload source, target audience and video type. The types of treatments mentioned in the videos and the demographic data of the videos were recorded.

RESULTS

According to the usefulness score, 59% of the videos were poor-quality, 36.7% were moderate-quality and 4.3% were excellent-quality. Moderate-quality videos had a higher interaction index than excellent-quality videos (p = 0.039). The video duration of excellent-quality videos was longer than that of moderate and poor-quality videos (p = 0.024, p = 0.002). Videos with poor-quality content were found to have significantly lower DISCERN scores than videos with moderate (p < 0.001) and excellent-quality content (p = 0.008). Additionally, there was a significantly positive and moderate (r = 0.446) relationship between DISCERN scores and content usefulness scores (p < 0.001). There was only a weak positive correlation between DISCERN scores and video length (r = 0.359; p < 0.001). The videos uploaded by physiotherapists had significantly higher views per day and viewing rate than videos uploaded by medical doctors (p = 0.037), university-hospital-institute (p = 0.024) and dentists (p = 0.006). The videos uploaded by physiotherapists had notably higher number of likes and number of comments than videos uploaded by medical doctors (p = 0.023; p = 0.009, respectively), university-hospital-institute (p = 0.003; p = 0.008, respectively) and dentists (p = 0.002; p = 0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the majority of videos on YouTube about bruxism treatments are produced by professionals, most of the videos contain limited information, which may lead patients to debate treatment methods. Health professionals should warn patients against this potentially misleading content and direct them to reliable sources.

Effective use of online COVID-19 information and eHealth information literacy among US university students

Objective: This study aimed to understand students' ability to search the Internet for COVID-19 information and apply it to evaluate the veracity of specific statements. Participants: Undergraduate students (N = 239) at a US university completed a Web-based questionnaire in September-October 2020. Methods: The questionnaire included self-reported measures of online health information literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, and anxiety along with exercises on searching and evaluating COVID information online. Results: Students reported moderate levels of information literacy (76%, 3.8 out of 5), but did not perform as well while searching the Internet for COVID-19 information (average accuracy: 65%, 10.5 out of 16 points). Students with higher Internet exercise scores reported higher GPA, higher household income, and liberal political views, and were more likely to follow public health measures [ie, social distancing, mask wearing, and not self-medicating with (hydroxy)chloroquine]. Conclusions: University students may overestimate their information literacy while struggling with searching the Internet for accurate COVID-19 information.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis on YouTube: Is Popular Information the Most Reliable?

Background Patients utilize online health information to inform their medical decision-making. YouTube is one of the most popular media platforms with abundant health-related resources, yet the quality of the disseminated information remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the quality and reliability of content pertaining to diverticulosis and diverticulitis on YouTube. Methods One author queried the terms "diverticulosis," "diverticulitis," "acute diverticulitis," and "chronic diverticulitis" on YouTube. The first 50 videos per search were selected for analysis. Duplicates, non-English videos, or procedural content were excluded. Video characteristics including view count, likes, comments, duration, days since upload, view ratio, video power index, and video sources (professional organizations (POs), health information websites (HIWs), and entertainment/independent users (EIUs)) were collected. Videos were scored using the mDISCERN and Global Quality Score (GQS). Results Sixty-four videos were included. DISCERN scores significantly differed between POs (n=20, mean=4.35), HIWs (n=29, mean=2.97), and EIUs (n=15, mean=1.83). GQS also significantly differed between POs (n=20, mean=4.47), HIWs (n=29, mean=3.62), and EIUs (n=15, mean=2.5). Video characteristics significantly differed between groups, with most user engagement seen in EIUs. Conclusion POs and HIWs disseminate higher quality health information about diverticular disease on YouTube. The higher viewer engagement with EIUs is concerning, as these sources were found to have lower quality content. Although YouTube has the capability to provide valuable information on diverticulosis and diverticulitis, enhanced content screening is needed to ensure accuracy and validation.

Health information in short videos about metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Analysing quality and reliability

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Short videos, crucial for disseminating health information on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), lack a clear evaluation of quality and reliability. This study aimed to assess the quality and reliability of MASLD-related videos on Chinese platforms.

METHODS

Video samples were collected from three platforms (TikTok, Kwai and Bilibili) during the period from November 2019 to July 2023. Two independent reviewers evaluated the integrity of the information contained therein by scoring six key aspects of its content: definition, epidemiology, risk factors, outcomes, diagnosis and treatment. The quality and reliability of the videos were assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, the Global Quality Score (GQS) and the modified DISCERN score.

RESULTS

A total of 198 videos were included. The video content exhibited an overall unsatisfactory quality, with a primary emphasis on risk factors and treatment, while diagnosis and epidemiology were seldom addressed. Regarding the sources of the videos, the GQS and modified DISCERN scores varied significantly between the platforms (p = .003), although they had generally similar JAMA scores (p = .251). Videos created by medical professionals differed significantly in terms of JAMA scores (p = .046) compared to those created by nonmedical professionals, but there were no statistically significant differences in GQS (p = .923) or modified DISCERN scores (p = .317).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall quality and reliability of the videos were poor and varied between platforms and uploaders. Platforms and healthcare professionals should strive to provide more reliable health-related information regarding MASLD.

Assessing the Quality and Reliability of Cardiac Rehabilitation Information on YouTube: A Systematic Evaluation

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to systematically evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on cardiac rehabilitation, addressing a gap in the literature regarding the assessment of online health resources in this field.

DESIGN AND SETTING

The study is a cross-sectional analysis. This research was conducted entirely online, utilizing the YouTube platform for data collection.

MAIN MEASURES

The videos were assessed for educational quality and reliability using modified versions of the DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and Global Quality Scale (GQS) benchmarks. Specific data points such as upload date, length, uploader and narrator identity, and engagement metrics (views, likes, and dislikes) were also collected.

RESULTS

 Out of 300 videos initially reviewed, 140 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of videos were of low quality (67.9%), with medium (12.9%) and high-quality (19.3%) content being less common. Videos were predominantly uploaded by academic, university, or hospital sources (63.6%) and narrated by non-physician health professionals (41.4%). The content mainly provided general information about cardiac rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

 The study revealed a concerning predominance of low-quality YouTube content on cardiac rehabilitation, underscoring the necessity for healthcare professionals and academic institutions to enhance the quality of online resources.

Orthodontic Elastics: A Multivariable Analysis of YouTubeTM Videos

Background/Purpose

Whether YouTube videos contain precise and adequate information on certain orthodontic procedures remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the content and quality of YouTube videos on orthodontic elastics and identify the predictors of high-level content YouTube videos.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred YouTube videos were screened for eligibility, and after applying the inclusion criteria, 133 videos were excluded. Student's t-test was used to compare the characteristics, quality parameters, and total content of the low-level and high-level content videos. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were implemented to identify the source and content element differences across low-level and high-level content videos. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between the total content score, video information and quality index (VIQI), and YouTube characteristics. Stepwise linear multiple regressions with forward selection were used to test the association of the YouTube characteristics and VIQI with the total content score.

Results

Among 67 included videos, only 19.4% of videos were classified as high-level content videos. High-level content videos had significantly higher mean number of likes (MD = 4041.7; SD = 4680.7; P-value=0.0068), VIQI score (MD = 4.17; SD = 4.87; P-value=0.0073), and total content score (MD = 4.04; SD = 1.23; P-value=<0.0001). The adjusted linear regression model demonstrated a significant association between the total content score and VIQI, where 1 unit increase in the VIQI was significantly associated with a 0.16 increase in the total content score (B = 0.16; standard error [SE]=0.04; P = 0.0003). Further, a significant association was observed between the total content score and video duration, where 1 minute increase in the video duration was significantly associated with a 0.15 increase in the total content score (B = 0.15; SE = 0.05; P = 0.008).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that YouTube content quality concerning orthodontic elastics is poor. Thus, future implementation of online visual content provided by certified orthodontists will ensure accurate and thorough information delivery.

To trust or not to trust: evaluating the reliability and safety of AI responses to laryngeal cancer queries

PURPOSE

As online health information-seeking surges, concerns mount over the quality and safety of accessible content, potentially leading to patient harm through misinformation. On one hand, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare could prevent it; on the other hand, questions raise regarding the quality and safety of the medical information provided. As laryngeal cancer is a prevalent head and neck malignancy, this study aims to evaluate the utility and safety of three large language models (LLMs) as sources of patient information about laryngeal cancer.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using three LLMs (ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4.0, and Bard). A questionnaire comprising 36 inquiries about laryngeal cancer was categorised into diagnosis (11 questions), treatment (9 questions), novelties and upcoming treatments (4 questions), controversies (8 questions), and sources of information (4 questions). The population of reviewers consisted of 3 groups, including ENT specialists, junior physicians, and non-medicals, who graded the responses. Each physician evaluated each question twice for each model, while non-medicals only once. Everyone was blinded to the model type, and the question order was shuffled. Outcome evaluations were based on a safety score (1-3) and a Global Quality Score (GQS, 1-5). Results were compared between LLMs. The study included iterative assessments and statistical validations.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed that ChatGPT 3.5 scored highest in both safety (mean: 2.70) and GQS (mean: 3.95). ChatGPT 4.0 and Bard had lower safety scores of 2.56 and 2.42, respectively, with corresponding quality scores of 3.65 and 3.38. Inter-rater reliability was consistent, with less than 3% discrepancy. About 4.2% of responses fell into the lowest safety category (1), particularly in the novelty category. Non-medical reviewers' quality assessments correlated moderately (r = 0.67) with response length.

CONCLUSIONS

LLMs can be valuable resources for patients seeking information on laryngeal cancer. ChatGPT 3.5 provided the most reliable and safe responses among the models evaluated.

The impact of toxic trolling comments on anti-vaccine YouTube videos

Anti-vaccine trolling on video-hosting websites hinders efforts to increase vaccination rates by using toxic language and threatening claims to intimidate people and promote vaccine hesitancy. However, there is a shortage of research investigating the effects of toxic messages on these platforms. This study focused on YouTube anti-vaccine videos and examined the relationship between toxicity and fear in the comment section of these videos. We discovered that highly liked toxic comments were associated with a significant level of fear in subsequent comments. Moreover, we found complex patterns of contagion between toxicity and fear in the comments. These findings suggest that initial troll comments can evoke negative emotions in viewers, potentially fueling vaccine hesitancy. Our research bears essential implications for managing public health messaging and online communities, particularly in moderating fear-mongering messages about vaccines on social media.

YouTube as a Source of Information on Public Health Ethics

BACKGROUND

Public health ethics (PHE) is a dynamic area within bioethics that addresses the complex moral implications of public health measures in the face of growing health threats. YouTube is a powerful and widely used platform for disseminating health-related information. The primary objective of this study is to assess videos related to PHE on YouTube. The aim is to gauge the extent of misinformation in collecting PHE videos on the platform.

METHODS

On October 25, 2023, a thorough investigation on YouTube was undertaken, employing pre-determined search phrases involving 'public health,' 'healthcare,' 'health services administration,' and 'health policy and ethics.' The research encompassed a total of 137 videos that were selected according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The videos were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale to measure quality and the modified DISCERN tool to evaluate reliability. The researchers identified video sources and compared several video attributes across different quality groups.

RESULTS

A total of 137 videos were analyzed, and 65 (47.45%) were classified as high quality, 52 (37.23%) as moderate quality, and 21 (15.32%) as low quality. In high-quality videos, academic, government, physician, and university-hospital sources predominated, whereas Internet users and news sources were connected with low-quality videos. Significant differences in DISCERN score, per day views, likes, and comments were seen across the quality groups (P = 0.001 for views per day and P = 0.001 for other characteristics). According to the findings, low-quality videos had higher median values for daily views, likes, and comments.

CONCLUSION

Although nearly half of the videos were high-quality, low-quality videos attracted greater attention. Critical contributors to high-quality videos included academic, government, physician, and university-hospital sources. The findings highlight the importance of quality control methods on social media platforms and strategies to direct users to trustworthy health information. Authors should prioritize appropriate citations and evaluate YouTube and other comparable platforms for potential promotional low-quality information.

Text-Mining and Video Analytics of COVID-19 Narratives Shared by Patients on YouTube

This study explores how individuals who have experienced COVID-19 share their stories on YouTube, focusing on the nature of information disclosure, public engagement, and emotional impact pertaining to consumer health. Using a dataset of 186 YouTube videos, we used text mining and video analytics techniques to analyze textual transcripts and visual frames to identify themes, emotions, and their relationship with viewer engagement metrics. Findings reveal eight key themes: infection origins, symptoms, treatment, mental well-being, isolation, prevention, government directives, and vaccination. While viewers engaged most with videos about infection origins, treatment, and vaccination, fear and sadness in the text consistently drove views, likes, and comments. Visuals primarily conveyed happiness and sadness, but their influence on engagement varied. This research highlights the crucial role YouTube plays in disseminating COVID-19 patient narratives and suggests its potential for improving health communication strategies. By understanding how emotions and content influence viewer engagement, healthcare professionals and public health officials can tailor their messaging to better connect with the public and address pandemic-related anxieties.

Extremism, knowledge, and overconfidence in the covid-19 restriction times

Public response to restriction policy against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can polarize into two extremes: one absolutely in favor of restrictions for the sake of human life and health, and other absolutely against the restrictions for the sake of human rights and daily life. This study examines psychological nature of extremism regarding individuals' self-restraint from social behavior, which was and has been encouraged by the Japanese government as restriction measures, as well as possible measures to mitigate this extremism. We hypothesize that people with more extreme views on self-restraint tend to have less knowledge of this virus, and, nevertheless, tend to be more overconfident in the sense that they falsely believe they understand COVID-19 and the effects of self-restraint. It is also postulated that overconfidence can be reduced by asking them to explain how self-restraint works. To test these hypotheses, we conducted an online experiment on the Japanese adults (n = 500) to measure the extent of their knowledge of COVID-19 and to examine the effect of explanation task on their understanding regarding COVID-19 and extremism. The results indicate that the extreme attitudes were associated with insufficient knowledge about the symptoms, risks, and characteristics of COVID-19. Moreover, their extreme attitudes tended to moderate through this experimental study to an extent that they realized they did not understand COVID-19 including the effects of self-restraint. This suggests that people with extremism may have been overconfident in their own understanding of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Reliability and Usefulness of YouTube as a Source of Informative Media for Arthroscopic Tennis Elbow Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Published Videos

Aims and Objectives

Over the last decade, YouTube has been extensively used as a learning tool for both physicians and patients, but the reliability of this information remains questionable. The purpose of this study was to look for the reliability and quality of videos on tennis elbow arthroscopy on YouTube.

Materials and Methods

We used three search terms on YouTube "tennis elbow arthroscopic surgery," "Arthroscopic ECRB release," and "Arthroscopic debridement for tennis elbow," and screened the first 50 videos according to popularity. The videos were included from 2009 to date. Only videos in the English language were included. Repeated videos and videos without sound were excluded. A total of 74 videos were selected for this study and reliability was checked with DISCERN and journal of the American medical association (JAMA) scores. The quality was assessed with the Global Quality Score Criteria (GQSC) score and TEARS (a novel score). Popularity was tested with the video power index (VPI). A pilot study was conducted using 20 videos to validate the TEARS score.

Results

In the pilot study, TEARS showed results in accordance with other scores used. The average number of views was 41,644.97, and the average duration was 5.03 ± 3.39 years. The mean value of DISCERN and JAMA was found to be 21.47 ± 6.28 and 1.05 ± 0.92, respectively. GQSC, TEARS, and VPI were found to be 1.70 ± 0.82, 4.17 ± 2.62, and 769,936.9 ± 6,538,851.37.

Conclusion

Most of the videos were educational and physicians were targeted. The USA was the major contributor to such videos. The reliability and quality of these videos were found to be of poor quality. The video popularity was however found to be relatively high. The inter-observer reliability was good. Based on the findings, we conclude that the videos are not reliable and could not be used for learning.

Characteristics of the most viewed Hybrid Assistive Limb-related videos on YouTube

Objectives. YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing tools and is used as a forum for sharing information about experiences with new technology-based exercise programs, such as the wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL). This study aimed to analyze the content and quality of HAL-related videos viewed by people to clarify the content required by YouTube viewers. Methods. We searched HAL-related YouTube videos and selected the top 100 most viewed videos. The number of views, video length, upload date, content, and uploaders of each video were recorded. In addition, DISCERN was used to evaluate the quality of videos. Results. Of the 100 videos, the most shared content was the training videos on HAL (n = 58). The videos uploaded by YouTubers had a significantly higher number of views than those uploaded by other uploaders (hospital, company, and municipality) (p < .001). Furthermore, they had significantly higher DISCERN Questions 16 scores, which serve as the basis for the overall evaluation of the publication's overall quality (p < .001). Conclusion. HAL-related videos on YouTube, featuring the experiences and feedback of YouTubers who are HAL users, are favored more by viewers than by service providers.

The role of social media in public health crises caused by infectious disease: a scoping review

IMPORTANCE

The onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic highlighted the increasing role played by social media in the generation, dissemination and consumption of outbreak-related information.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current review is to identify and summarise the role of social media in public health crises caused by infectious disease, using a five-step scoping review protocol.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Keyword lists for two categories were generated: social media and public health crisis. By combining these keywords, an advanced search of various relevant databases was performed to identify all articles of interest from 2000 to 2021, with an initial retrieval date of 13 December 2021. A total of six medical and health science, psychology, social science and communication databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO and CNKI. A three-stage screening process against inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted.

FINDINGS

A total of 338 studies were identified for data extraction, with the earliest study published in 2010. Thematic analysis of the role of social media revealed three broad themes: surveillance monitoring, risk communication and disease control. Within these themes, 12 subthemes were also identified. Within surveillance monitoring, the subthemes were disease detection and prediction, public attitude and attention, public sentiment and mental health. Within risk communication, the subthemes were health advice, information-seeking behaviour, infodemics/misinformation circulation, seeking help online, online distance education and telehealth. Finally, within disease control, the subthemes were government response, public behaviour change and health education information quality. It was clear that the pace of research in this area has gradually increased over time as social media has evolved, with an explosion in attention following the outbreak of COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Social media has become a hugely powerful force in public health and cannot be ignored or viewed as a minor consideration when developing public health policy. Limitations of the study are discussed, along with implications for government, health authorities and individual users. The pressing need for government and health authorities to formalise evidence-based strategies for communicating via social media is highlighted, as well as issues for individual users in assessing the quality and reliability of information consumed on social media platforms.

The efficacy and reliability of English YouTube videos as a source of information for pregnant rheumatoid arthritis patients

OBJECTIVES

Online platforms are used by many patients to access health care information, but the quality and accuracy of information on these platforms are unknown. Our goal was to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube video content for pregnant rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODS

YouTube was searched on January 13, 2022, using the keywords "rheumatoid arthritis pregnancy," "rheumatoid arthritis conception," "rheumatoid arthritis fertility" and "rheumatoid arthritis breastfeeding". The top 200 videos were viewed. Two rheumatologists then categorized the videos into useful and misleading groups. Videos were excluded if they were irrelevant or duplicates. To assess the reliability and quality of the videos, a modified DISCERN tool and the Global Quality Score (GQS) were applied. Patient interaction was assessed using predictors of video popularity such as the like ratio, view ratio, and video power index scales.

RESULTS

A total of 54 videos were examined; the majority (51.8%) of them were uploaded by health information websites. A total of 94.4% of the videos were useful, and 5.5% were misleading. All three misleading videos were uploaded by patients. The GQS, the modified DISCERN score, and usefulness differed significantly by uploader source (p < 0.001 for both). According to the GQS evaluation, health information websites were the source of high-quality videos with more useful information and higher modified DISCERN scores. The GQS and modified DISCERN score had moderately negative (r = -.526, r = -.548, respectively) and very significant (p < 0.001 for both) correlations with the assessment of usefulness.

CONCLUSION

Almost all YouTube videos for pregnant RA patients were educational and useful. Similar patient interactions in videos with misleading and useful information showed that patients were unable to differentiate between videos based on video quality. Patients should be informed about the importance of video sources when viewing YouTube videos. Key Points • Most YouTube videos for pregnant RA patients were useful, were uploaded by health information websites and had physicians as the speakers • All misleading YouTube videos were uploaded by patients using their own accounts • In terms of patient interactions, there was no noticeable difference between useful and misleading videos • When dealing with a sensitive topic such as pregnancy, patients should be educated on the importance of video sources.

Editorial Commentary: Recognizing and Avoiding Medical Misinformation Across Digital Platforms: Smoke, Mirrors (and Streaming)

The evolution of social media and related online sources has substantially increased the ability of patients to query and access publicly available information that may have relevance to a potential musculoskeletal condition of interest. Although increased accessibility to information has several purported benefits, including encouragement of patients to become more invested in their care through self-teaching, a downside to the existence of a vast number of unregulated resources remains the risk of misinformation. As health care providers, we have a moral and ethical obligation to mitigate this risk by directing patients to high-quality resources for medical information and to be aware of resources that are unreliable. To this end, a growing body of evidence has suggested that YouTube lacks reliability and quality in terms of medical information concerning a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.

Trust in information sources as a moderator of the impact of COVID-19 anxiety and exposure to information on conspiracy thinking and misinformation beliefs: a multilevel study

This study investigates the intricate relationship between exposure to information sources, trust in these sources, conspiracy and misinformation beliefs, and COVID-19 anxiety among 509 Omani citizens aged 11 to 50, representing 11 governorates. Employing structural equation modeling, we not only examine these associations but also explore how trust and COVID-19 anxiety act as moderating variables in this context. Additionally, we delve into demographic factors such as age group, educational level, gender, and place of residence (governorate) to discern potential variations.Our findings reveal that trust in health experts is inversely related to belief in conspiracy theories, while trust in health experts negatively correlates with exposure to conspiracy and misinformation. Intriguingly, trust in health experts exhibits divergent effects across governorates: it diminishes conspiracy and misinformation beliefs in some regions but not in others. Exposure to personal contacts and digital media, on the other hand, is associated with heightened beliefs in misinformation and conspiracy theories, respectively, in select governorates. These distinctions may be attributed to proximity to Muscat, the capital city of Oman, where various media outlets and policy-making institutions are situated. Furthermore, lower educational attainment is linked to greater belief in conspiracy and misinformation. Females reported higher levels of conspiracy theory beliefs and COVID-19 anxiety while no significant differences were detected in misinformation beliefs.This study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of misinformation and conspiracy theories in the context of COVID-19 in Oman, highlighting the pivotal roles of trust and COVID-19 anxiety as moderating factors. These findings offer valuable insights into understanding and addressing the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories during a public health crisis.

How Likes and Retweets Impacted Our Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The growing dependence on social media for health-related information boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, posing unprecedented challenges in navigating the vast amounts of information available right at our fingertips. Social media had a major impact on clinical decision-making affecting individuals, communities, and societies at large. In this review, we discuss the role of social media in amplifying information and misinformation as well as factors contributing to its reliance and prevalence. We review how medical providers have been impacted by this changing landscape, useful communication strategies to employ with in-office patient encounters, and how we can be active players in using social media as a tool for health promotion, correcting misinformation, and preparing for future pandemics.

The role of trust in the implementation and uptake of COVID-19 response measures: a qualitative study of health professionals' experiences in Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Even though trust is placed at the central point in ensuring proper functioning of the health systems, studies remain scant on how it affects both the implementation and uptake of COVID-19 response measures in low- and middle-income countries such as Tanzania. This study, therefore, explored the role of trust in the implementation and uptake of recommended COVID-19 response measures including vaccines from the perspective of health professionals in Tanzania.

METHODS

This cross-sectional qualitative study was implemented in four of Tanzania's thirty-one regions. Qualitative data was collected through 26 in-depth interviews held with regional and district disease outbreak response teams, district cold chain co-ordinators and health facility in-charges. In addition, five focus group discussions and seven group interviews were conducted with healthcare workers from the lower-level health facilities. Thematic analysis was conducted and applied the trust constructs.

RESULTS

Interpersonal trust and health system trust emerged as two major themes in the study. Interpersonal trust was reported to stem from lack of transparency that instigated fear, worries, and confusion regarding the implementation and uptake of the recommended response measures. The distrust was mainly between health professionals in health facilities and those assigned to isolation centres as well as between patients and community members. On the other hand, the health system trust was shaped by mixed feelings regarding COVID-19 vaccine national decisions, and conflicting messages from national officials, politicians and religious leaders on COVID-19 responses, safety, and effectiveness of the vaccines. Questions surrounding the short duration of clinical trials, indeterminate post-vaccination protection duration, impotence-linked beliefs, freemasonry notion and unclear vaccinated cards information are other reported contributory factors to mistrust in the health system. However, after a comprehensive health education and experience in COVID-19 vaccination administration most professionals affirmed the effectiveness of the vaccines in limiting infections and its severe consequences.

CONCLUSION

Participants indicated limited trust at both interpersonal and health system levels aggravated by lack of transparency, unclear and conflicting messages on COVID-19 infections and response measures. Enforced transparency on pandemics alongside standardised messages from the reliable sources is crucial in enhancing trust in implementation and uptake of the recommended response measures.

Mpox knowledge, vaccination and intention to reduce sexual risk practices among men who have sex with men and transgender people in response to the 2022 mpox outbreak: a cross-sectional study in Victoria, Australia

BACKGROUND

The first mpox case was reported in May 2022 in Australia. Most cases have been diagnosed in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to examine community understanding of mpox, attitudes towards vaccination, and potential changes in sexual practices surrounding the mpox outbreak among MSM and transgender people in Victoria, Australia.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from sexual health clinics and communities in Victoria, Australia, in August-October 2022. Participants were asked about their understanding and knowledge of mpox, vaccination uptake and intentions to change sexual practices. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the factors associated with mpox vaccine uptake.

RESULTS

Most participants (97.8%, 525/537) had heard about mpox and 10.5% (55/525) knew someone who had had mpox. Of the 12 mpox knowledge questions, the median score of correct answers was 10 (IQR=8-11) out of a maximum of 12. More than a third (36.6%, 191/522) had been vaccinated against mpox. MSM who had a good knowledge of mpox had the highest odds of receiving mpox vaccine compared with those who had poor knowledge (aOR=4.05; 95% CI: 1.54-10.61). To prevent mpox, half reported they would reduce having sex with casual partners, stop having chemsex (used drugs for the purpose of sex), stop attending sex-on-premises-venues, and stop having group sex. A quarter reported they would increase condom use for anal sex.

CONCLUSIONS

One-third of high-risk participants and a substantial proportion of participants intended to reduce or stop certain practices, which may explain the large reduction in mpox cases.

Information dissemination during public health emergencies: analysing the international flow of COVID-19-related news

A large-scale exchange of information between media across national borders is frequently observed when a worldwide public health emergency occurs. This study investigated the global news citation network in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing the network structure at different levels to identify important nodes and the relationships among news organisations. The results show that COVID-19-related international news flow had a complex and unequal pattern, with a few countries and media outlets occupying a prominent place in the network and three media groups played key but different roles in disseminating the news. It was jointly influenced by national traits, the relatedness between countries, and the pandemic emergency with public health risks. From a global perspective, the media of the United States, mainland China, and the United Kingdom played the most important parts in collaboration within the world media system in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Role of Social Media in Health Misinformation and Disinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Bibliometric Analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of social media platforms to seek information continues to increase. Social media platforms can be used to disseminate important information to people worldwide instantaneously. However, their viral nature also makes it easy to share misinformation, disinformation, unverified information, and fake news. The unprecedented reliance on social media platforms to seek information during the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by increased incidents of misinformation and disinformation. Consequently, there was an increase in the number of scientific publications related to the role of social media in disseminating health misinformation and disinformation at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health misinformation and disinformation, especially in periods of global public health disasters, can lead to the erosion of trust in policy makers at best and fatal consequences at worst.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reports a bibliometric analysis aimed at investigating the evolution of research publications related to the role of social media as a driver of health misinformation and disinformation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this study aimed to identify the top trending keywords, niche topics, authors, and publishers for publishing papers related to the current research, as well as the global collaboration between authors on topics related to the role of social media in health misinformation and disinformation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The Scopus database was accessed on June 8, 2023, using a combination of Medical Subject Heading and author-defined terms to create the following search phrases that targeted the title, abstract, and keyword fields: ("Health*" OR "Medical") AND ("Misinformation" OR "Disinformation" OR "Fake News") AND ("Social media" OR "Twitter" OR "Facebook" OR "YouTube" OR "WhatsApp" OR "Instagram" OR "TikTok") AND ("Pandemic*" OR "Corona*" OR "Covid*"). A total of 943 research papers published between 2020 and June 2023 were analyzed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation), VOSviewer (Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University), and the Biblioshiny package in Bibliometrix (K-Synth Srl) for RStudio (Posit, PBC).

RESULTS

The highest number of publications was from 2022 (387/943, 41%). Most publications (725/943, 76.9%) were articles. JMIR published the most research papers (54/943, 5.7%). Authors from the United States collaborated the most, with 311 coauthored research papers. The keywords "Covid-19," "social media," and "misinformation" were the top 3 trending keywords, whereas "learning systems," "learning models," and "learning algorithms" were revealed as the niche topics on the role of social media in health misinformation and disinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak.

CONCLUSIONS

Collaborations between authors can increase their productivity and citation counts. Niche topics such as "learning systems," "learning models," and "learning algorithms" could be exploited by researchers in future studies to analyze the influence of social media on health misinformation and disinformation during periods of global public health emergencies.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Cameroon: The Role of Medical Mistrust and Social Media Use

Most African countries report low COVID-19 vaccination rates (Msellati et al., 2022; WHO Africa; 2020). This study focuses on factors associated with vaccine hesitancy specifically in the country of Cameroon. Social media use and medical mistrust have been suggested as key variables that may increase vaccine hesitancy. Adopting the information-related perspective guided by the risk information seeking and processing model, the current research explored how social media use and medical mistrust are related to vaccine hesitancy among Cameroonians. Survey results from a sample of 1,000 Cameroonians fielded in early 2022 showed that social media use and medical mistrust were positively associated with belief in misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Belief in misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine was negatively associated with perceived information insufficiency. A positive relationship between perceived information insufficiency and information seeking, as well as a negative relationship between information seeking and vaccine hesitancy were also found. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Obeying Authority: Should We Trust Them or Not?

Researchers claim impartiality when conducting research and suggest their motives are to improve knowledge. However, when investigating the history of research into obedience to authority, propaganda and power-knowledge are present as well as emotional ties that affect the motives and methods of investigating these areas. With published work from US President Woodrow Wilson proposing obeying authority is necessary to functional societies and the Vatican displaying power-knowledge when censoring heliocentric views, it seems some researchers have ulterior motives. Although researchers like Piaget and Milgram appear to be more integral researchers, Piaget like many utilised observational methods that lack replicability, and Milgram's family history with the events of the Holocaust pose additional issues. Therefore, considering the General Demarcation Problem, it is difficult to distinguish between science and pseudoscience, given all researchers will consider the research they conduct in the present day to be the correct way of doing so. However, adopting a critical mind as to who is conducting the research and the wider implications of who it serves and who it does not serve, would be beneficial for academia and wider society. This comes in a time where many reject the science of critical world issues such as COVID-19 and climate change.

Gender as a moderating variable in online misinformation acceptance during COVID-19

Misinformation remained a critical consideration during the COVID-19 that further cultivated fears leading to strong unrest among the public globally. This study clarifies certain misconceptions related to the pandemic by investigating whether factors such as altruism, entertainment, information-sharing, information-seeking, comprehensibility have impact on COVID-19 misinformation acceptance and sharing it in the UAE culture, with gender as a moderating factor. An online survey (google.com) was used, with a sample of 200 university students, and analyzed using PLS-SEM software to determine the effects of constructed factors. The findings indicated that entertainment, information-sharing, and information-seeking factors have impact on sharing COVID-19 misinformation, while comprehensibility has impact on acceptance of misinformation. Interestingly, gender was found to have no impact on all the constructed factors, suggesting that other moderating factors (e.g., age) need to be considered in future research. Generally, online users need to learn how to verify online information that they receive/share on other social media, especially regarding health concern.

Participant engagement with a short, wordless, animated video on COVID-19 prevention: a multi-site randomized trial

COVID-19 misinformation has spread rapidly across social media. To counter misinformation, we designed a short, wordless and animated video (called the CoVideo) to deliver scientifically informed and emotionally compelling information about preventive COVID-19 behaviours. After 15 163 online participants were recruited from Germany, Mexico, Spain, the UK and the USA, we offered participants in the attention placebo control (APC) and do-nothing arms the option to watch the CoVideo (without additional compensation) as post-trial access to treatment. The objective of our study was to evaluate participant engagement by quantifying (i) the proportion of participants opting to watch the CoVideo and (ii) the duration of time spent watching the CoVideo. We quantified the CoVideo opt-in and view time by experimental arm, age, gender, educational status, country of residence and COVID-19 prevention knowledge. Overall engagement with the CoVideo was high: 72% of the participants [CI: 71.1%; 73.0%] opted to watch the CoVideo with an average view time of 138.9 out of 144.0 s [CI: 138.4; 139.4], with no statistically significant differences by arm. Older participants (35-59 years) and participants with higher COVID-19 prevention knowledge had higher view times than their counterparts. Spanish participants had the highest opt-in percentage whereas Germans exhibited the shortest view times of the five countries. Short, wordless and animated storytelling videos, optimized for 'viral spread' on social media, can enhance global engagement with COVID-19 prevention messages by transcending cultural, language and literary barriers.

The Quality of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Videos on YouTube

Objective  YouTube (YouTube LLC, San Bruno, California, United States), one of the most accessed sites on the internet, has become a widespread source of healthcare information for patients. Videos about coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) have accrued tens of millions of views on the platform, yet their educational quality is unknown. This study investigates the educational landscape of videos regarding CABG procedures on YouTube. Methods YouTube was queried for "Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery" and "Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Procedure". After applying exclusion criteria, 73 videos were assessed. Two independent reviewers rated the material with the Global Quality Scale (GQS) (5 = high quality, 0 = low quality) to judge educational value. A ratio of view count to days since upload was applied to assess video popularity. Source, modality, and date of upload were recorded for each video as well. Results An average GQS score of 2.94 was found, indicating poor educational quality of the 73 YouTube videos on CABG procedures. Videos uploaded by physicians (56/73; 76.7%) had a significantly higher average GQS score than those uploaded by non-physicians (p<0.001). When content was grouped by delivery method, physician-led presentations (24/73 or 32.9%) produced the highest average GQS score of 3.35; conversely, patient-friendly delivery methods (18/73 or 24.7%) yielded the lowest average GQS score of 2.36 (p<0.001). Neither the view ratio nor the days since upload significantly correlated with the educational quality of the video. Conclusion Although CABG videos are readily available on YouTube, they often contain considerable biases and misleading information. With online sources for healthcare education now commonplace, physicians must be aware of the vast quantities of low-quality videos patients often encounter when weighing different treatment options. Further analysis of CABG videos on YouTube may allow physicians to ameliorate this gap by producing videos that are not only high quality but highly viewed on the platform.

Social network analysis of COVID-19 vaccine YouTube videos in Odisha, India: mapping the channel network and analyzing comment sentiment

India has reported more than 35 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nearly half a million cumulative deaths. Although vaccination rates for the first vaccine dose are quite high, one-third of the population has not received a second shot. Due to its widespread use and popularity, social media can play a vital role in enhancing vaccine acceptance. This study in a real-world setting utilizes YouTube videos in Odisha, India where the platform has deep penetration among the 18-35 target population, and secondarily their family and peers. Two contrasting videos were launched on the YouTube platform to examine how those videos operate within the broader recommender and subscription systems that determine the audience reach. Video analytics, algorithms for recommended videos, visual representation of connections created, centrality between the networks, and comment analysis was conducted. The results indicate that the video with a non-humorous tone and collectivistic appeal delivered by a female protagonist performed best with regard to views and time spent watching the videos. The results are of significance to health communicators who seek to better understand the platform mechanisms that determine the spread of videos and measures of viewer reactions based on viewer sentiment.

The changing vaccine landscape: rates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in young adults during vaccine rollout

AIMS

Development and rollout of vaccines offers the best opportunity for population protection against the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. However, hesitancy towards the vaccines might impede successful uptake in the United Kingdom, particularly in young adults who demonstrate the highest rates of hesitancy. This prospective study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in young adults and whether the reasons behind these attitudes changed during the initial stages of the United Kingdom's vaccine rollout.

METHOD

Data on vaccination intention were collected from a British university student cohort at three time points: October 2020, February 2021, and March 2021. This online survey included items on intention to receive a vaccine and a free-text response for the reasons behind this intention. Cochran's Q tests examined changes in rates of hesitancy and acceptance over time and free-text responses were analysed thematically.

RESULTS

At baseline, 893 students provided data, with 476 participants completing all three time points. Hesitancy declined over time, with 29.4% of participants expressing hesitancy at baseline, reducing to 9.1% at wave 2 and 5.9% at wave 3. The most commonly endorsed themes for those willing to accept a vaccine were self-protection against COVID-19 and pro-social reasons, including protecting the population or unspecific others, and ending the pandemic/returning to normal life. The most commonly endorsed hesitancy themes related to 'confidence' in the vaccines and potential personal risk, including insufficient testing/scientific evidence, concern about side effects, and long-term effects. These reasons remained the most commonly endorsed at both waves 2 and 3.

CONCLUSIONS

While a decline in hesitancy was observed over time, the key reasons behind both vaccine acceptance and hesitancy remained consistent. Reasons behind hesitancy aligned with those of the general public, providing support for the use of generalist interventions. Pro-social reasons frequently underpinned vaccine acceptance, so cohort-specific interventions targeting those factors may be of benefit.

[Sources used to obtain information on COVID-19 and its impact on mental health.]

With the rise of COVID-19, the society has had the need to search for information about the pandemic and the sources used to obtain information have been very diverse, with a greater predominance of social media, traditional media and consultation with loved ones. In addition, an excess of information has been observed in the media that made access and understanding difficult, as well as a constant concern and anxiety about health that caused a need to search excessively or repeatedly for information on health and disease. This information was not always endorsed by the scientific community and during the pandemic there has been the spread of misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 disseminated, mainly through social media. In this sense, both the knowledge and the beliefs apprehended have been able to impact the mental health of the population.

Lessons Learned from a Global Perspective of Coronavirus Disease-2019

Coronavirus disease-2019 has impacted the world globally. Countries and health care organizations across the globe responded to this unprecedented public health crisis in a varied manner in terms of public health and social measures, vaccination development and rollout, the conduct of research, developments of therapeutics, sharing of information, and in how they continue to deal with the widespread aftermath. This article reviews the various elements of the global response to the pandemic, focusing on the lessons learned and strategies to consider during future pandemics.

Impact of changes in clinical practice guidelines for intra-articular injection treatments for knee osteoarthritis on public interest and social media

OBJECTIVE

To summarize changes in recommendations for injection treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in current clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and to assess whether these changes have affected public interest according to Google data and content in YouTube videos.

DESIGN

A literature search to identify CPGs revised since 2019 that provide recommendations regarding the five intra-articular injection treatments for knee OA (corticosteroid [CS], hyaluronic acid [HA], stem cell [SC], platelet-rich plasma [PRP], and botulinum toxin [BT]) was conducted to assess perspective changes for each treatment. Data from Google Trends were examined to identify changes in search volume from 2004 to 2021 using a join-point regression model. Relevant YouTube videos were divided into those uploaded before and after changes in CPGs and compared according to degrees of recommendation for each treatment to identify the effect of changes in CPGs on video production.

RESULTS

All eight identified CPGs released after 2019 recommended HA and CS use. Most CPGs were the first to state a neutral or opposing stance concerning the use of SC, PRP, or BT. Interestingly, relative searches on Google for SC, PRP, and BT has increased greater than those for CS and HA. YouTube videos produced after CPGs changed continue to recommend SC, PRP, and BT as much as those produced before CPGs were revised.

CONCLUSIONS

Although knee OA CPGs have changed, public interest and healthcare information providers on YouTube have not reacted to this shift. Improved methods to propagate updates to CPGs warrant consideration.