Is YouTube a reliable source of health-related information? A systematic review

YouTube as a Tool for Medical Education: Analyzing Content Quality and Reliability on Chiari Malformation

BACKGROUND

Chiari malformation is a structural defect in the brain, affecting the cerebellum, brainstem, upper cervical cord, and cranial base, with severe cases involving herniation through the foramen magnum. This condition can significantly impact the patient's quality of life. Given the elective nature of surgical treatment for Chiari 1 malformations, many patients seek supplemental information on YouTube. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, accuracy, reliability, and educational value of YouTube videos on Chiari malformation decompression surgery.

METHODS

We selected 77 videos for analysis based on specific criteria such as language, duration, and minimum view count. The selected videos were scored using modified DISCERN, Global Quality Score, and Journal of the American Medical Association criteria. Data regarding the video content and creators were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to assess data normality and the Mann-Whitney U test to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

The overall quality and reliability of YouTube videos on Chiari malformation decompression surgery were found to be moderate. Videos longer than 5 minutes and those featuring a physician had significantly higher scores across all metrics.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the need for improved regulation and the promotion of high-quality medical content on online platforms. Healthcare providers should guide patients toward reliable resources and consider collaborating with content creators to enhance the quality of educational materials available online. Improved oversight and quality control on platforms like YouTube can better support patient education and clinical decision-making.

Quality and Reliability Analysis of Videos About Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate on YouTube

OBJECTIVE

To assess the reliability and quality analyses of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) videos on YouTube, as a source of public information.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, a YouTube search with the keyword "ThuLEP" was performed on November 15, 2022 and 142 videos were listed according to relevance. Video features and source of upload were recorded. The quality of videos was evaluated by using both the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) score and the Global Quality Score (GQS); the reliability of videos was evaluated by using 5-point modified DISCERN tool, respectively. The correlation analysis was performed by using Spearman test between video features and these three scores.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven videos were analyzed after exclusion and the most common source of upload were urologists (54.5%) and the videos containing only ThuLEP surgery (74%) were the majority of the videos. The median JAMA score, 5-point modified DISCERN score, and GQS were 2, 1, and 1, respectively. There were no statistical differences in these three scores according to the source of the upload. All three scores were analyzed separately by language and no significant statistical difference was found. There was a positive correlation between the video power index and as well as JAMA, GQS, and m.DISCERN scores.

CONCLUSION

Despite abundant videos on ThuLEP on YouTube, most of these videos are not targeted to public and information provided may not be as useful for patients. Information presented in these videos may be inaccurate and not reliable.

Dissemination of health content through social networks: YouTube and opioid use disorders

INTRODUCTION

Most Americans now access social media platforms, including YouTube, to obtain health information. However, few studies have evaluated the quality of YouTube content related to opioid use disorder (OUD), including medications for OUD (MOUD; buprenorphine) and harm reduction resources (e.g., naloxone). The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to assess the quality, accuracy, and reliability of MOUD and harm reduction-related video content available on YouTube.

METHODS

The study team conducted a YouTube search between June 2022 and July 2022 using key words related to MOUD and harm reduction content (e.g., "suboxone," "methadone," "Narcan"). The 5 most viewed videos from each search term were analyzed for quality (i.e., Global Quality Scale; GQS), accuracy (i.e., JAMA Benchmark Criteria), and reliability (i.e., DISCERN). Videos that were non-English, duplicate, or that did not directly mention OUD, MOUD, or harm reduction were excluded from the review (N = 6).

RESULTS

YouTube videos (N = 70) were mostly produced by medical professionals (27.1 %), independent nonmedical users (21.4 %; e.g., vloggers, individuals documenting their experiences), medical organizations (17.1 %; e.g., hospitals, treatment programs), and/or media (14.3 %; e.g., news agencies). The target audience was primarily the general public (65.7 %), people who use opioids (20.0 %), and healthcare providers (10.0 %). Videos containing MOUD content (N = 64, 61.4 %) mostly focused on suboxone (25.0 %), methadone (23.4 %), Sublocade (14.1 %), and subutex/buprenorphine (14.1 %). The median quality score was 2 based on the GQS with 3 videos receiving the highest quality rating (5). Two videos were highly rated for accuracy per all three JAMA Benchmark criteria. Videos produced by nonmedical educational channels had the highest overall reliability scores on the DISCERN criteria (median 4), followed by medical professionals (median 3), and medical organizations (median 2.5).

CONCLUSION

The overall quality, accuracy, and reliability of MOUD and harm reduction related content posted on YouTube is poor. The lack of evidence-based content posted on YouTube reinforces the need for public health expert involvement in disseminating guideline-based content on social media.

Learning cardiac embryology on YouTube-What videos are there to view?

In modern medical curricula, embryology is typically taught through lectures, with a few institutions providing tutorials. The use of 3-D videos or animations enables students to study these embryological structures and how they change with time. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of cardiac embryology videos available on YouTube. A systematic literature review regarding the use of YouTube in teaching or learning cardiac embryology identified no papers that examined this specific question, and next, a systematic search of YouTube was performed. A total of 1200 cardiac embryology videos were retrieved using 12 specific search terms, with 370 videos retrieved under two or more search terms and excluded. A further 511 videos were excluded under additional, specific criteria. The remaining 319 videos were evaluated with the YouTube Video Assessment Criteria (UTvAC), with 121 rated as "useful." Videos on YouTube are uploaded with a wide audience in mind, from children to cardiologists, and content control is imperfect. Multiple videos were identified as duplicates of videos from original channels, typically without attribution. While 49 videos showed operations or human material, none contained an ethical statement regarding consent, and only 10 of these included an age restriction or graphical advisory. While there are useful videos for medical students studying cardiac embryology on YouTube, intuitive search strategies will also identify many with irrelevant content and of variable quality. Digital competence and search strategies are not innate skills, so educators should teach students to assess information so as to avoid overload or "filter failure."

Evaluation of Videos Related to Vaginal Cone Usage on YouTube as an Online Information Source

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study is to examine the quality and content characteristics of educational videos on the use of vaginal cones published on YouTube.

METHODS

Video searches were conducted on the YouTube website using the keyword "usage of vaginal cones". A total of 52 videos were included in the current study. Modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) scales were used to evaluate the reliability of the videos, and the Global Quality Scale (GQS) was used for quality and usefulness.

RESULTS

As a result of the content analysis conducted, it was observed that 29 videos were classified as having "poor content" and 23 as "rich content." When we examined the sources of the videos (n = 52), it was found that the majority (58%, n = 30) were produced by nonhealth care sources (medical companies and nonhealth professionals). With statistical significance in mDISCERN and GQS (p = 0.014, p = 0.036), physiotherapists were found to have the highest average scores (4.11 ± 1.05, 3.44 ± 0.73) whereas doctors ranked second in the average standard deviation (3.09 ± 1.04, 2.82 ± 0.98). In JAMA, medical companies were found to have the highest average score with statistical significance (p = 0.015) at 3.4 ± 0.74, followed by doctors at 3 ± 1, and physiotherapists at 2.89 ± 0.78 when averages were analyzed.

CONCLUSION

It is clearly evident that there is a need for higher quality and more reliable vaginal cone content database on YouTube. It is important for patients to be guided by health care professionals and informed about quality content criteria in order to access quality, reliable, and useful information.

Trusting the tube? YouTube®'s role in pacemaker patient and physician education

OBJECTIVE

YouTube®, attracts billions of monthly viewers, including those seeking health-related content. However, the quality standards of information are highly variable. The study aimed to evaluate the educational merit of YouTube® concerning pacemakers, focusing on quality and reliability for educating both patients and physicians.

METHODS

The term "pacemaker" was searched on YouTube®. Following the application of exclusion criteria based on video language, duration, and minimum view count, a total of 71 videos were analyzed. Quality was assessed using the Global Quality Score (GQS), while reliability was evaluated using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) score. Data and metrics available regarding the channel and the specific video were obtained. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was employed to assess data normality, and the Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

Youtube videos on cardiac pacemakers proved to be of moderate quality, with an average GQS score of 3.10, and of moderate reliability, indicated by a mean mDISCERN score of 3.08. Higher scores were reported for videos of more than five minute duration, the ones that were targeted at physicians, and the videos with higher view ratios. The presence of a board-certified MD yielded statistically greater mean GQS, but not mDISCERN score. No statistical difference was observed based on the number of likes.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, while YouTube® offers significant education opportunities, there is a clear need for enhanced oversight and quality control. Healthcare providers should guide patients towards valid resources and consider collaborating with platforms to develop content standards.

Evaluation of YouTube videos as a source of information on facial paralysis exercises

BACKGROUND

YouTube has emerged as an important source for obtaining information regarding health issues.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to assess the reliability and quality of facial paralysis exercise videos that are accessible on the YouTube platform.

METHODS

The investigation was carried out on Youtube, utilizing the keyword "facial paralysis exercises". We listed the first 100 videos based on relevancy. The quality and reliability of the videos were assessed using DISCERN, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and the Video Power Index (VPI).

RESULTS

Out of 100 studies, we excluded 52 and included the remaining 48. The scores we obtained for the videos were as follows: DISCERN Quality (2.92±0.91), DISCERN Total (39.16±6.75), JAMA (2.09±0.55), and GQS (3.00±0.89). Our study also revealed that videos uploaded by healthcare professionals had significantly higher DISCERN total, JAMA and VPI scores compared to those uploaded by non-healthcare professionals (p = 0.018, 0.001 and 0.023, respectively). Additionally, we observed a positive and statistically significant correlation between the DISCERN quality score, total score, JAMA, and video features.

CONCLUSION

The facial paralysis exercise videos were determined to be of medium to low quality. Higher-quality videos need to be produced.

Social Networks as a Tool for Evidence-Based Health Education: Umbrella Review

BACKGROUND

The number of people who access social networking sites continues to increase at an exponential rate. The use of technology is an essential skill for nursing professionals and its development represents a challenge in improving health education, promotion and care. The objective of this systematic review is to analyse the use of social networking sites by healthcare professionals as an intervention tool for evidence-based public health education.

METHODS

The protocol of this umbrella review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023407249). Searches were carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, in February 2023. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted.

RESULTS

1896 articles were found, of which 15 reviews fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Social networks broadened the profession; they were YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. The target population was mainly young professionals, and they came across different topic areas that addressed health education.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to have information backed by scientific evidence to make health decisions. Health professionals active on social networking sites have a unique opportunity to educate the public about health by sharing scientific evidence in an accessible and clear way, which helps to combat misinformation.

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.

YouTube Video Clips on Breastfeeding Education and Promotion for Arabic-Speaking Populations: A Social Media Content Analysis

Background/Objective: Although the benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized, reports indicate that optimal breastfeeding rates are low in Arabic-speaking countries. This is a significant concern given the health benefits associated with breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. Previous research has shown that education interventions can increase breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Arabic-speaking populations. The social media platform YouTube holds significant potential for distributing customized health education for diverse audiences; specifically, this platform has the potential to empower mothers and normalize long-term breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of YouTube videos on breastfeeding available in the Arabic language. Methods: We used standard procedures to search YouTube for Arabic breastfeeding videos posted on YouTube in December 2023. Videos were evaluated using the three scales of the DISCERN quality evaluation instrument (reliability, information quality, video quality) and total score. Comparative statistics were generated. Results: In total, 165 videos met the inclusion criteria, with 29.7% in the Education category; 43.6% were in Egyptian Arabic dialect. Almost all (91.75%) of the educational videos had a "medium" quality assessment. Educational videos and those using health professionals had higher quality assessments than those in other categories or done with other speakers. Conclusion: The results of this review suggest that most content on the topic of breastfeeding was of only medium reliability and informational quality. New mothers seeking breastfeeding information or support may be in need of specific problem-solving information at a time when they are living with the often-difficulty reality of caring for a newborn or very young infant. There is a clear need for accurate, culturally congruent information to effectively support breastfeeding in Arabic-speaking countries. Future efforts should focus on improving the quality of online health education content, with implications for public health strategies and policy development.

Is it safe? Health promotion videos on YouTube and the safety of viewers - Views from Ghana

Objectives

Health promotion videos are trending and abundant. Information provided in these videos is not verified by any designated experts but is popular. In this paper we discuss the prevalence of such videos and guide patients on how to verify their authenticity. The paper accepts that these videos are abundant and necessary in an age driven by open access to information and commercial interests.

Methods

The paper uses evidence from previous studies and observations of authors to propose the inclusion of YouTube in the health promotion toolkit of Ghanaian and African health systems.

Results

The paper proposes the improvement of health literacy and patient-caregiver communication in preparation for an active role for YouTube as a health promotion tool.

Conclusions

For patients, the paper recommends improved health literacy and communication with caregivers as an effective safety mechanism against misleading content. Caregivers are advised to accommodate patient views influenced by YouTube videos and be active participants in online spaces. Research on health literacy and effective patient-caregiver communication is recommended.

Is YouTube a reliable source of information for temporomandibular joint ankylosis?

PURPOSE

In the digital era, the internet is the go-to source of information, and patients often seek insights on medical conditions like TMJ ankylosis. YouTube, a popular platform, is widely used for this purpose. However, YouTube's lack of regulation means it can host unreliable content. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to assess the scientific quality of YouTube videos concerning TMJ ankylosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study analyzed 59 TMJ ankylosis-related videos. Two Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery specialists assessed these videos. Data on the video source, duration, upload date, the time elapsed since upload, total views, likes, dislikes and comments, Interaction index, and viewing rate were collected and analyzed. Video quality was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), comparing health professionals and non-health professionals.

RESULTS

Health professional's videos were better in terms of GQS 3.21 ± 0.94 and DISCERN score 3.03 ± 0.75 as compared to the non-health professional videos GQS 3.0 ± 1.04, and DISCERN 2.81 ± 1.13. Health professional group videos had more reliability and better quality than the non-health professional group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

YouTube should not be relied on as a trustworthy source for high-quality and reliable information regarding TMJ ankylosis videos. Healthcare professionals must be prepared to address any ambiguous or misleading information and to prioritize building trustworthy relationships with patients through accurate diagnostic and therapeutic processes.

"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.

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.

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.

Size matters: characterizing penile augmentation content from the 100 most popular YouTube videos

Aesthetic penile augmentation is considered investigational and not shown to be safe or efficacious. This study sought to characterize the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on the topic of penile augmentation. A systematic search identifying the 100 most viewed YouTube videos on penile augmentation was conducted. The videos were then evaluated by two independent urologists for reliability and quality using a modified DISCERN scoring system and Global Quality Scale (GQS). The median total views were 530,612 (range 123,478-32,914,713). The median DISCERN and GQS scores for all 100 videos were generally poor at 1.75 (IQR 1-2.63) and 2.5 (IQR 1.5-3.5), respectively. A little under half of the videos had a physician present (44.7%). DISCERN and GQS scores were significantly higher in videos with physicians compared to those without one (p < 0.001 for both). The majority of videos discussed nonsurgical methods of penile augmentation (65.1%) with penile traction devices being the most frequently discussed (19.2%). Urologists and medical organizations should strive to have more of a presence in this space to ensure patients are appropriately educated and counseled before pursuing potentially ineffective or harmful treatments.

Editorial Commentary: Surgical Videos on YouTube Are Not Peer Reviewed and Have Low Educational Value

The rise of online platforms like YouTube for health information has prompted scrutiny over the quality of medical/surgical-related video content. Recent research on YouTube videos regarding anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with quadriceps tendon autograft shows low educational quality and reliability using established assessment tools. Physicians primarily published content, with longer videos, and physician-generated videos, generally correlating with higher quality. However, YouTube's inadequacy as a reliable source for ACLR information underscores the need for alternative educational resources. Orthopaedic health care professionals must play a pivotal role in guiding patients toward credible sources and take aim at improving online content quality. Understanding patient preferences for online resources is essential for enhancing patient education, the patient-provider relationship, and decision-making in orthopaedic care.

Clinical utility of shared book reading on YouTube: An analysis of metadata, evidence-based content, understandability, and actionability

PURPOSE

Digital content may increase parental access to training as well as the diversity of the training programs. YouTube videos may provide a platform from which professionals may adopt content for such programs. This study provides data regarding the clinical utility of YouTube videos about shared book reading (SBR) found on the United States (USA) and India channels.

METHOD

A cross-sectional analysis of videos about SBR was conducted to examine metadata, evidence-based content, understandability, and actionability. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse metadata and content. Health literacy concepts of understandability and actionability were measured, and descriptive statistics are reported.

RESULT

Of 800 videos identified, 10 included information related to storybook selection, dialogic reading, extra-textual strategies, and print-referencing strategies. These met adequate levels of understandability and actionability.

CONCLUSION

Results provide some direction and recommendations for parent-training programs in the USA and India. The study highlights the use of YouTube videos and suggests its utility as a supplement source within parent-training programs.

Quality of YouTube Videos Regarding Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Quadriceps Tendon Autograft Is Unsatisfactory

PURPOSE

To assess the validity and informational value of teaching material regarding anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft provided on the YouTube video platform.

METHODS

An extensive systematic search of the YouTube video platform was performed, and all videos that met the criteria were included in the analysis. The analysis of the video content was performed using the DISCERN instrument, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and Global Quality Score (GQS). The duration of the videos, the date of publication, and the number of likes and views were recorded. Furthermore, videos were categorized based on the source (physicians, companies, patients), the subject (surgical technique, patient experience and overview [overview videos were videos in which multiple aspects were analyzed]), and the type of content (educational or subjective patient experience).

RESULTS

A total of 88 videos were included in the analysis. Seventy-one (80.7%) videos were published by physicians, 15 (17.0%) by patients, and 2 (2.3%) by companies. The majority of the videos described various surgical techniques (59%-67.0%), 80.7% of the videos (72%-81.8%) had an educational nature, and the remaining 18.2% described patient experiences. The mean length of the videos was 8.21 ± 7.88 minutes. The mean number of views was 3,988.51 ± 9,792.98 (range 9-56,047), whereas the mean numbers of comments and likes were 30.07 ± 70.07 (range 0-493) and 4.48 ± 14.22 (range 0-82), respectively. The mean DISCERN score, JAMA score, and GQS were 27.43 ±11.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.01-29.85; range: 17-68), 1.22 ± 0.85 (95% CI 1.04-1.40; range 0-3), and 1.82 ± 0.93 (95% CI 1.63-2.01; range 1-4), respectively. For all scores, videos published by physicians had greater quality (DISCERN score, JAMA score, and GQS) (P < .05). Among all of the analyzed videos, overview videos were of the highest quality (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube is a fast and open-access source of mass information. The overall quality of the videos on ACLR performed using QT autograft was unsatisfactory, demonstrating low educational quality and reliability. Currently, YouTube cannot be recommended as a reliable source of information on ACLR with the QT.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Surgeons treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries should take special care when suggesting outside sources for patients to use to further educate themselves about this procedure. Due to the poor quality of the content, orthopaedic health care professionals should alert patients about the inaccuracies of YouTube videos addressing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the quadriceps tendon. Additionally, health care practitioners should attempt to offer patients better options.

YouTube videos on lymphedema as an information source for Spanish speaking breast cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer-related lymphedema in the upper limb remains one of the most distressful complications of breast cancer treatment. YouTube is considered a potential digital resource for population health and decision making. However, access to inadequate information or misinformation could have undesirable impacts. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the reliability, quality and content of YouTube videos on lymphedema as an information source for Spanish-speaking breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

A search of YouTube was conducted in January 2023 using the key words "breast cancer lymphedema" and "lymphedema arm breast cancer." Reliability and quality of the videos were evaluated using the Discern tool, content, source of production, number of likes, comments, views, duration, Video Power Index, likes ratio, view ratio and age on the platform.

RESULTS

Amongst the 300 Spanish language videos identified on YouTube, 35 were selected for analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the 35 selected videos, 82.9% (n = 29) were developed by healthcare or academic professionals and 17.1% (n = 9) by others. Reliability (p < 0.017) and quality (p < 0.03) were higher in the videos made by professionals. The Discern total score (r = 0.476; p = 0.004), reliability (r = 0.472; p = 0.004) and quality (r = 0.469; p = 0.004) were positively correlated with the duration of the videos.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide a strong rationale for educating breast cancer survivors seeking lymphedema information to select videos made by healthcare or academic professionals. Standardised evaluation prior to video publication is needed to ensure that the end-users receive accurate and quality information from YouTube.

YouTube as a possible learning platform for patients and their family caregivers for gastrostomy tube feeding: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Many patients and family caregivers have informational needs, especially regarding gastrostomy care and home gastrostomy tube feeding. YouTube is a potential accessible option for educational resources concerning these topics.

METHODS

This study aimed to explore the educational quality and content of informational YouTube videos. We used "gastrostomy," "G-tube," "enteral feeding," and "enteral nutrition," as search keywords on YouTube on October 3, 2021. A total of 229 videos were evaluated using the global quality scale (GQS) and modified DISCERN scoring system. Variables extracted from the videos included general features, video parameters, and content themes.

RESULTS

The GQS and modified DISCERN scores were 3.31 ± 0.90 and 2.63 ± 1.23, respectively. There were educational quality and differences among videos uploaded by various agencies. Frequent video content themes included "cleaning and dressing a gastrostomy tube," "bolus method," and "replacing a balloon-type of gastrostomy tube."

CONCLUSION

Results showed that YouTube can be a supplemental educational resource for people requiring gastrostomy care and for their caregivers. However, given the open-access nature of YouTube, healthcare professionals' guidance is needed for video selection. Healthcare professionals should know and use specific, reliable resources to effectively guide and educate patients with gastrostomy and their caregivers, enhancing their self-management skills and knowledge.

Evaluating the Adequacy of YouTube Videos for Learning Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy With Complete Mesocolic Excision

AIM

 Complete mesocolic excision (CME) is becoming an oncological surgical principle day by day for right hemicolectomy. However, the procedure is technically difficult and carries a higher risk of complications than open surgery. In this study, the adequacy of YouTube videos that facilitate education for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with complete mesocolic excision (LRHCME) was investigated.

METHODS

In July 2024, in the search bar of the YouTube platform, the term "laparoscopic right hemicolectomy complete mesocolic excision" was searched. The first 100 videos in each search were evaluated. Animations, advertisements, lectures, non-surgical videos (pre-surgery, post-surgery vlog, etc.), and non-English videos were excluded from the study. Steps identified in the Delphi consensus were used to determine the reliability of the videos. The quality of the videos was measured using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the modified DISCERN score.

RESULTS

Seventy videos were included in the evaluation. While 28 (40%) of these videos were classified as reliable, 42 (60%) were not found reliable. In reliable videos, video description, HD resolution, GQS, modified DISCERN, and duration were significantly higher (p-value <0.001, 0.012, <0.001, <0.001, 0.041 respectively). Reliable videos had a better rank than unreliable videos (p=0.046).

CONCLUSION

When evaluated according to Delphi consensus, the most of LRHCME videos on the YouTube platform were unreliable. We conclude that YouTube alone is insufficient for learning LRHCME without a professional instructor.

A Social Media Content Analysis of Dental Health Information Involving the Use of Miswak (Salvadora persica) Chewing Stick on YouTube™

Background The widespread availability of Internet access and the rising popularity of social media platforms have facilitated the dissemination of health-related information, including dental health practices. However, assessing the quality and effectiveness of such information remains a challenge, particularly concerning traditional practices such as Miswak (Salvadora persica) usage. This study aims to assess the description, use, and effectiveness of the Miswak (Salvadora persica) chewing stick posted as video clips on YouTube™ and provide considerations for future interventions. Methodology YouTube videos were searched using the terms "Miswak," "Siwak," "Salvadora persica," and "Chewing stick." Each video's descriptive features, i.e., title, links, country of origin, upload date, running time, views, comments, likes, and dislikes, were recorded. Content quality was assessed using the DISCERN tool, which rates the reliability, dependability, and trustworthiness of online sources across 16 items. Scores were aggregated for analysis. The statistical analysis examined video features and associations between the speaker, video type, source, and quality, with significance set at a p-value <0.05 using SPSS Statistics Version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results A total of 45 videos were included in the study, with the majority (62%) created by the "other professionals" category. Almost three-quarters (73.3%) of the videos were educational. The quality of the video clips was correlated with the speaker source and category of "other," revealing that high-quality information was considered such when the source was other than a dentist. Further, we found that a video's source did not elicit differences in the opinion of the video's quality. Conclusions This social media analysis provides considerations and implications for future research on the potential use of YouTube as a platform for Miswak educational interventions.

Fifteen-minute consultation: Empowering children, young people and families through shared decision-making: a practical guide

Shared decision-making (SDM) is a collaborative approach to healthcare decision-making that involves patients and healthcare professionals working together to make decisions that are informed by the best available medical evidence, as well as the patient's values, preferences and goals. The importance of SDM and the intricate interplay among parents, children and young people (CYP), and healthcare professionals are increasingly acknowledged as the crucial aspects of delivering high-quality paediatric care. While there is a substantial evidence base for SDM improving knowledge and reducing decisional conflict, the evidence for long-term measures such as improved health outcomes is limited and mainly inconclusive. To support healthcare teams in implementing SDM, the authors offer a practical guide to enhance decision-making processes and empower CYP and their families.

How (Cautious) Social Media Use May Improve Education and Pipeline Efforts of a Growing Postpandemic Forensic Pathologist Workforce Shortage

ABSTRACT

Many subspecialties of pathology have initiated novel methods and strategies to connect with medical students and residents, stimulate interest, and offer mentorship. Emerging concern about the future of forensic pathology has been highlighted in contemporary literature as recruitment of new fellows has stagnated and workforce shortage concerns have blossomed. Amidst these challenges, the potential role of social networking platforms like social media (SoMe) in enhancing autopsy pathology/forensics education has garnered attention, yet literature focusing specifically on its application in autopsy and forensic pathology remains limited. This review aims to provide a comprehensive narrative overview of the current literature on the established uses of SoMe in forensic pathology. It seeks to build upon existing recommendations, introducing a contemporary compilation of online resources designed to facilitate virtual engagement among pathologists, learners, patients, and families. The review supports the idea that strategic, ethical, and conscientious use of SoMe has a place in addressing the growing workforce shortages and closing educational gaps in forensic pathology by enhancing exposure to the field and dispelling antiquated stereotypes.

Understanding the Long Haulers of COVID-19: Mixed Methods Analysis of YouTube Content

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating global impact. In the United States, there were >98 million COVID-19 cases and >1 million resulting deaths. One consequence of COVID-19 infection has been post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). People with this syndrome, colloquially called long haulers, experience symptoms that impact their quality of life. The root cause of PCC and effective treatments remains unknown. Many long haulers have turned to social media for support and guidance.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we sought to gain a better understanding of the long hauler experience by investigating what has been discussed and how information about long haulers is perceived on social media. We specifically investigated the following: (1) the range of symptoms that are discussed, (2) the ways in which information about long haulers is perceived, (3) informational and emotional support that is available to long haulers, and (4) discourse between viewers and creators. We selected YouTube as our data source due to its popularity and wide range of audience.

METHODS

We systematically gathered data from 3 different types of content creators: medical sources, news sources, and long haulers. To computationally understand the video content and viewers' reactions, we used Biterm, a topic modeling algorithm created specifically for short texts, to analyze snippets of video transcripts and all top-level comments from the comment section. To triangulate our findings about viewers' reactions, we used the Valence Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner to conduct sentiment analysis on comments from each type of content creator. We grouped the comments into positive and negative categories and generated topics for these groups using Biterm. We then manually grouped resulting topics into broader themes for the purpose of analysis.

RESULTS

We organized the resulting topics into 28 themes across all sources. Examples of medical source transcript themes were Explanations in layman's terms and Biological explanations. Examples of news source transcript themes were Negative experiences and handling the long haul. The 2 long hauler transcript themes were Taking treatments into own hands and Changes to daily life. News sources received a greater share of negative comments. A few themes of these negative comments included Misinformation and disinformation and Issues with the health care system. Similarly, negative long hauler comments were organized into several themes, including Disillusionment with the health care system and Requiring more visibility. In contrast, positive medical source comments captured themes such as Appreciation of helpful content and Exchange of helpful information. In addition to this theme, one positive theme found in long hauler comments was Community building.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study could help public health agencies, policy makers, organizations, and health researchers understand symptomatology and experiences related to PCC. They could also help these agencies develop their communication strategy concerning PCC.

Source-Dependent Quality Variation in Shoulder Dislocation Videos on YouTube

Purpose

To assess the quality of YouTube videos for patient education on shoulder dislocation.

Methods

A standard YouTube search was performed in March 2023 using the terms "shoulder dislocation," "dislocated shoulder," and "glenohumeral joint dislocation" to identify eligible videos. Multiple scoring systems, including DISCERN (a validated tool for analyzing the quality of health information in consumer-targeted videos), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, and the Global Quality Score (GQS) were used to evaluate the videos. Video quality scores from various sources were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for initial analysis, followed by Dunn's post-hoc test with Bonferroni correction, and the strength of relationship between variables was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

Results

A total of 162 eligible videos were identified. The mean video duration was 11.38 ± 3.01 minutes, the median number of views was 653. Median number of days since upload was 1,972, the median view rate was 0.343, and median number of likes was 66.12. Based on the DISCERN classification, a substantial proportion of videos were classified as insufficient quality, with 19.4% as "very insufficient" and 42.1% as "insufficient"; 24.1% were classified as "average" quality, whereas only 13.1% were classified as "good" and 1.2% were "excellent." Videos from academic and professional sources showed a significant positive correlation with DISCERN scores (rho: +0.784, P < .001) and greater scores on all 4 scoring systems compared to health information websites.

Conclusions

This study reveals that the majority of YouTube videos on shoulder dislocation lack sufficient quality for patient education, with content quality significantly influenced by the source.

Clinical Relevance

Examining the accuracy of information that patients encounter on YouTube is essential for health care providers to direct individuals toward more reliable sources of information.

Is YouTube Reliable to Teach Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass?

AIM

 The increasing prevalence of obesity has led to the popularity of bariatric surgery. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is one of the most complex methods in bariatric surgery. The main steps of LRYGB were determined in the Delphi Consensus. This study investigated the instructiveness and reliability of YouTube videos about LRYGB based on the Delphi Consensus.

METHODS

In February 2024, three different searches were done in the search bar of the YouTube platform with the terms "laparoscopic gastric bypass" "laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass" and "laparoscopic RYGB". The first 50 videos in each search were evaluated. Animations, lectures, advertisements, non-English videos, and non-surgical videos (pre-surgery, post-surgery vlog, etc.) were excluded from the study. Delphi consensus steps were used to determine the reliability of the videos. The quality of the videos was measured using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and modified DISCERN test.

RESULTS

Forty-five videos were included in the evaluation. While 14 (31.1%) of these videos were classified as reliable, 31 (68.8%) were not found reliable. In reliable videos, video description, high definition (HD) resolution, GQS, and modified DISCERN were significantly higher (p-value 0.023, 0.004, 0.017, and 0.025 respectively).

CONCLUSION

The rate of unreliable videos was higher on the YouTube platform. We conclude that YouTube alone is insufficient to learn LRYGB.

Enabling Health Information Recommendation Using Crowdsourced Refinement in Web-Based Health Information Applications: User-Centered Design Approach and EndoZone Informatics Case Study

BACKGROUND

In the digital age, search engines and social media platforms are primary sources for health information, yet their commercial interests-focused algorithms often prioritize irrelevant content. Web-based health applications by reputable sources offer a solution to circumvent these biased algorithms. Despite this advantage, there remains a significant gap in research on the effective integration of content-ranking algorithms within these specialized health applications to ensure the delivery of personalized and relevant health information.

OBJECTIVE

This study introduces a generic methodology designed to facilitate the development and implementation of health information recommendation features within web-based health applications.

METHODS

We detail our proposed methodology, covering conceptual foundation and practical considerations through the stages of design, development, operation, review, and optimization in the software development life cycle. Using a case study, we demonstrate the practical application of the proposed methodology through the implementation of recommendation functionalities in the EndoZone platform, a platform dedicated to providing targeted health information on endometriosis.

RESULTS

Application of the proposed methodology in the EndoZone platform led to the creation of a tailored health information recommendation system known as EndoZone Informatics. Feedback from EndoZone stakeholders as well as insights from the implementation process validate the methodology's utility in enabling advanced recommendation features in health information applications. Preliminary assessments indicate that the system successfully delivers personalized content, adeptly incorporates user feedback, and exhibits considerable flexibility in adjusting its recommendation logic. While certain project-specific design flaws were not caught in the initial stages, these issues were subsequently identified and rectified in the review and optimization stages.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose a generic methodology to guide the design and implementation of health information recommendation functionality within web-based health information applications. By harnessing user characteristics and feedback for content ranking, this methodology enables the creation of personalized recommendations that align with individual user needs within trusted health applications. The successful application of our methodology in the development of EndoZone Informatics marks a significant progress toward personalized health information delivery at scale, tailored to the specific needs of users.

Youtube is an unreliable source of information about delayed ejaculation treatment

BACKGROUND

Social platforms such as YouTube have become sources of information about diseases as they can be easily and rapidly accessed. However, this also has the risk of ill-intentioned content and misleading information.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the reliability of YouTube video content about delayed ejaculation treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

YouTube videos were searched using the terms "delayed ejaculation," "retarded ejaculation," "inhibited ejaculation," and "anejaculation." Videos were excluded if they were not in English, were not related to the subject, or did not have audio and visual content. In accordance with the scientifically proven accurate information, the videos were separated as reliable (Group 2, n: 112) and unreliable videos (Group 1, n: 94). The groups were compared in respect of the video characteristics, and the scores obtained in the DISCERN-5, Global Quality Scale, the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool Audiovisual, and the Journal of the American Medical Association scales. Intraclass correlation test was used to evaluate the level of agreement between the two investigators.

RESULTS

Of the 1200 videos, 994 were excluded. No significant difference was determined between the Group 1 and Group 2 in respect of the median number of views [1672 (4555) vs 1547 (28,559), p = 0.63] and likes [10 (42) vs 17 (255), p = 0.07]. There was a greater number of videos in the Group 2 (54.4%) and the points obtained on the scoring scales were significantly higher than the Group 1 (p < 0.001). The videos originating from universities/professional organizations/non-profit physician/physician group were comprised the majority of the reliable videos (55.3%) and the unreliable videos had more content related to treatment (71.4%) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although there was a greater number of reliable videos related to the problem of delayed ejaculation, the content could be misleading and should be avoided by patients seeking treatment without consulting a physician.

How Informative Is YouTube Regarding Feeding in Infants with Cleft Lip and Palate?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the characteristics of popular videos on YouTube about the feeding of infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and analyze the adequacy of information provided by them.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was used.

METHODS

YouTube was systematically searched for consecutive relevant videos about the feeding of infants with CLP, using predefined keyword combinations, without any limitations on language or duration. Scrutiny of the top 50 videos for each keyword combination was performed and a self-designed data-extraction sheet was used. A content adequacy index was developed by an expert group, and used to assess content adequacy, classifying it into categories from excellent to poor.

RESULTS

From an initial retrieval of 200 videos, 42 were included in the final assessment. The videos originated from nine different countries, with more than half coming from the USA and in English. Five of the videos came from the channel of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. Content adequacy analysis showed that no video could be classified as excellent, while 33.3% were classified as optimal, 21.4% as suboptimal and 45.2% as poor.

CONCLUSIONS

The content adequacy of the majority of videos on YouTube, relating to the feeding of infants with CLP was inadequate, with only one third of them achieving optimal content adequacy. Efforts must be made to develop informative and standardized videos for social media and video-sharing platforms, perhaps through professional associations to ensure that families with an infant with CLP receive appropriate information.

Evaluation of Educational YouTube Videos for Distal Radius Fracture Treatment

Purpose

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are one of the most common fractures in adults. Adequate patient education is crucial for adherence to treatment. YouTube is a popular, accessible resource that has become a valuable tool for obtaining health information. The current study evaluated the top 50 YouTube videos on DRF treatment for patient education.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on YouTube using three searches to obtain 150 videos. Duplicate, nonrelevant, paid, and non-English videos were removed, and the top 50 rank-ordered videos were reviewed and characterized in terms of general (views, likes, video length, and publication date), source (publisher affiliation, presenter type, and target audience), and content (media type, topic coverage, advertisements, and bias) parameters.

Results

Only 56% of videos were directed toward patients versus 40% for health care providers, highlighting a gap in patient-oriented educational content on YouTube. Most (86%) videos included effective visual aids, aligning with best practices for educational videos. Surgical management was overrepresented in 64% of the videos as opposed to nonsurgical management in 34% of videos. Only 31% of patient-oriented videos discussed surgical complications. Home exercises were emphasized in 75% of the videos discussing recovery topics.

Conclusions

Although YouTube has the potential to be an effective resource for disseminating health information to patients, it has several limitations for education in DRF treatment including the lack of patient-oriented educational videos, overrepresentation of surgical treatment, and lack of information on surgical complications. Nonetheless, YouTube may have an important role as a supplementary resource, especially in certain topics such as guiding postoperative recovery with home exercises.

Clinical relevance

This study allows health care providers and content creators to proactively address information gaps identified in educational YouTube videos on DRF treatment. It helps characterize the role of YouTube in supporting the treatment and recovery of patients experiencing DRFs.

A quality assessment of YouTube as an information resource for tonsillectomy

PURPOSE

Online resources are increasingly being utilised by patients to guide their clinical decision making, as an alternative or supplement to the traditional clinical-patient relationship. YouTube is an online repository of user and community generated videos, which is one of the most popular websites globally. We undertook a study to examine the quality of information presented in YouTube videos related to tonsillectomy.

METHODS

We completed a systematic search of YouTube in May 2023 and identified 88 videos for inclusion in our study. Videos were published in the English language, focussing on tonsillectomy and tonsillectomy recovery, and were greater than 2 min in length. We recorded video quality metrics and two authors independently analysed the quality of information using three validated quality assessment tools described in the literature including the modified DISCERN, Global Quality Score, and the JAMA Benchmark Criteria.

RESULTS

The overall quality of the information was low with mean quality scores of Modified DISCERN (1.8 ± 1.3), GQS (2.6 ± 1.2), and JAMA Benchmark Criteria (1.6 ± 0.7). Information published by medical sources including medical professionals, healthcare organisations, and medical education channels scored significantly higher compared to non-medical sources across all quality measures and were of moderate overall quality and usefulness: Modified DISCERN (2.5 ± 1.1 vs 0.8 ± 0.9, z = -6.0, p < 0.001), GQS (3.2 ± 1.0 vs 1.7 ± 0.9, z = -5.7, p < 0.001), and JAMA (1.9 ± 0.8 vs 1.1 ± 0.3, z = -5.2, p < 0.001). Videos published during or after 2018 scored higher on Modified DISCERN (z = -3.2,p = 0.001) but not on GQS or JAMA. Video quality metrics such as total view count, likes, and comments, and channel subscriber count, did not correlate with higher video quality. However, amongst videos published by authoritative medical sources, total view count correlated positively with higher Modified DISCERN quality scores (p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

The overall quality and usefulness of YouTube videos on tonsillectomy is of low quality, but information published by authoritative medical sources score significantly higher. Clinicians should be mindful of increasing use of online information sources such as YouTube when counselling patients. Further research is needed in the medical community to create engaging, high-quality content to provide guidance for patients.

Quality and Reliability Analysis of YouTube as a Source for Patient Education on Dupuytren's Contracture

Purpose

This study seeks to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on Dupuytren's contracture.

Methods

The first 50 unique videos on Dupuytren's contracture were evaluated by searching YouTube for Dupuytren's contracture. Video metrics, source, and content type were recorded. Video reliability was assessed using the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark criteria. Video educational quality was assessed using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and a Dupuytren's Contracture-Specific Score (DC-SS).

Results

The total number of views for all 50 videos evaluated was 1,908,608 (mean, 38,172.16 ± 5,502.45 views). The mean reliability (JAMA) score was 2.21 ± 0.69 (range 0-4), the mean educational quality (GQS) score was 2.80 ± 1.28 (range 1-5), and the mean disease-specific (DC-SS) score was 6.05 ± 2.17 (range 0-15). Nonphysician health care professionals had the most popular videos, but the lowest DC-SS. GQS varied based on the video source, with physician-uploaded videos having the highest average quality scores. Physician source was an independent positive predictor of higher quality (GQS) (β = 0.477).

Conclusions

Videos on Dupuytren's contracture were frequently viewed on YouTube but had overall low educational quality and reliability. Of the videos that discussed collagenase as a treatment option, 40% failed to mention percutaneous needle aponeurotomy. Patients may be exposed to an incomplete set of treatment options. Educational content on YouTube should be interpreted cautiously and proper in-office education and high-quality resources for Dupuytren's contracture should be provided by physicians.

Type of Study/Level of Evidence

Therapeutic IV.

Dacryocystorhinostomy videos on YouTube as a source of patient education

BACKGROUND

To determine the quality and reliability of DCR YouTube videos as patient education resources and identify any associated factors predictive of video quality.

METHODS

A YouTube search was conducted using the terms "Dacryocystorhinostomy, DCR, surgery" on 12th of January 2022, with the first 50 relevant videos selected for inclusion. For each video, the following was collected: video hyperlink, title, total views, months since the video was posted, video length, total likes/dislikes, authorship (i.e. surgeon, patient experience or media companies) and number of comments. The videos were graded independently by a resident, a registrar and an oculoplastic surgeon using three validated scoring systems: the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), DISCERN, and Health on the Net (HON).

RESULTS

The average number of video views was 22,992, with the mean length being 488.12 s and an average of 18 comments per video. The consensus JAMA, DISCERN and HON scores were 2.1 ± 0.6, 29.1 ± 8.8 and 2.7 ± 1.0, respectively. This indicated that the included videos were of a low quality, however, only DISCERN scores had good interobserver similarity. Videos posted by surgeons were superior to non-surgeons when considering mean JAMA and HON scores. No other factors were associated with the quality of educational content.

CONCLUSION

The quality and reliability of DCR related content for patient education is relatively low. Based on this study's findings, patients should be encouraged to view videos created by surgeons or specialists in preference to other sources on YouTube.

Contents analysis of thyroid cancer-related information uploaded to YouTube by physicians in Korea: endorsing thyroid cancer screening, potentially leading to overdiagnosis

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer overdiagnosis is a major public health issue in South Korea, which has the highest incidence rate. The accessibility of information through the Internet, particularly on YouTube, could potentially impact excessive screening. This study aimed to analyze the content of thyroid cancer-related YouTube videos, particularly those from 2016 onwards, to evaluate the potential spread of misinformation.

METHODS

A total of 326 videos for analysis were collected using a video search protocol with the keyword "thyroid cancer" on YouTube. This study classified the selected YouTube videos as either provided by medical professionals or not and used topic clustering with LDA (latent dirichlet allocation), sentiment analysis with KoBERT (Korean bidirectional encoder representations from transformers), and reliability evaluation to analyze the content. The proportion of mentions of poor prognosis for thyroid cancer and the categorization of advertising content was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Videos by medical professionals were categorized into 7 topics, with "Thyroid cancer is not a 'Good cancer'" being the most common. The number of videos opposing excessive thyroid cancer screening decreased gradually yearly. Videos advocating screening received more favorable comments from viewers than videos opposing excessive thyroid cancer screening. Patient experience videos were categorized into 6 topics, with the "Treatment process and after-treatment" being the most common.

CONCLUSION

This study found that a significant proportion of videos uploaded by medical professionals on thyroid cancer endorse the practice, potentially leading to excessive treatments. The study highlights the need for medical professionals to provide high-quality and unbiased information on social media platforms to prevent the spread of medical misinformation and the need for criteria to judge the content and quality of online health information.

A content-quality and optimization analysis of YouTube as a source of patient information for bipolar disorder

Background

The goal of this study was to identify and evaluate the use of Arabic YouTube videos on BD as a resource for patient education.

Methods

A cross-sectional evaluation of YouTube videos as a source of information for patients with BD in Arabic was performed. The study was observational and, because it did not involve human subjects, it followed the STROBE guidelines whenever possible. The quality of the videos was assessed using the validated DISCERN instrument. The search strategy involved entering the term "bipolar disorder" in the YouTube search bar, and only YouTube videos in Arabic were included.

Results

A total of 58 videos were included in this study after removing duplicates and videos unrelated to BD (Figure 1). The most common source of videos was others (38%), followed by physician (33%), educational (26%), and hospital (3%). Resources covering symptoms and prognosis were mostly in the "others" category (41%). The resources or videos that covered treatment options were mainly created by physicians (41%). However, resources or videos that included a personal story mainly belonged to the "others" category (67%).

Conclusion

Visual health-related instructional resources still have a significant shortage. This study highlights the poor quality of videos about serious illnesses like BD. Evaluation and promotion of the creation of visual health-related educational resources should be the primary goal of future study.

Assessment of the Quality and Reliability of Content Available on YouTube About Palpitations

Palpitations refer to the sensation of rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeats in the chest, the determinants of which may range from hormonal changes to anxiety or arrhythmias. YouTube is one of the most prevailing and accepted web-based platforms people trust to help them understand more about their health conditions. Thus, this study aims to assess whether the quality of content about palpitations on this platform is reliable and sufficient. Seventy-one YouTube videos were analyzed using criteria such as date and time of upload, type of uploader, and type of content. The Global Quality Score (GQS) and modified DISCERN score were used to analyze the quality and reliability of the information provided. Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, US) was used for data analysis, and StataCorp's 2023 Stata Statistical Software (College Station, TX, US) was used for statistical analysis and visualization. Of the 71 videos analyzed, 90.14% were uploaded more than a year ago, 80.28% described the symptomatology in detail, and 81.69% accurately described the etiological factors. Hospitals and doctors were the most common uploaders, constituting 23% and 19% of the uploaded videos, respectively, and had high GQSs (Median GQS = 4). The highest scores also belonged to videos uploaded by patients suffering from the disease (Median GQS = 5). Hospitals and news channels ranked highest on the reliability score (Median DISCERN = 4, respectively). It was determined that despite varied sources, the nature of content provided by the platform contains promotional material and content gaps; YouTube should, therefore, be used critically and as per professional sources.

Unpacking the Role of YouTube Influencers in Shaping Healthy Attitudes and Behaviors in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Social media, notably YouTube (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States), has transformed global communication and access to information. In Saudi Arabia, with high internet usage, YouTube influencers play a significant role in shaping health attitudes and behaviors. This study investigates the impact of YouTube influencers on health behaviors among Saudi Arabian residents, considering the unique cultural and socio-demographic context. Methods We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. We surveyed a convenience sample of 703 young Saudi participants from September 2022 to March 2023. Data collection utilized an anonymous online questionnaire distributed via popular social media platforms. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic information, health habits, perceptions of influencers, and their impact on health attitudes. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, frequencies, means, and standard deviations, were employed to summarize participant characteristics and health-related variables. Pearson's chi-square test was utilized to compare response variables among different groups. Results Findings show significant gender disparities in health habits, with males more likely to smoke but females less physically active (p<0.01). Influencers were perceived as encouraging healthy habits by 71.7% of participants, yet 55.6% also believed they promoted unhealthy habits. Positive outcomes included dietary improvements (62.6%) and smoking cessation (20.5%). People preferred healthcare influencers the most (66.8%), followed by sports and fashion influencers. Conclusions This study highlights YouTube influencers' substantial influence on health behaviors in Saudi Arabia. It suggests the potential for influencers, especially in healthcare, to contribute positively to public health. Viewer discernment is essential due to varying influencer impacts. These findings underscore the complex role of YouTube influencers in shaping health behaviors and suggest avenues for targeted health interventions.

Content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic analysis

INTRODUCTION

YouTube's popularity as a health information source raises concerns about credibility due to the absence of peer review. Therefore, this study assessed the content quality and reliability of YouTube videos related to oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

Videos were systematically searched on August 20, 2023, using terms determined through Google Trends. Videos were included based on predefined criteria and independently assessed by two researchers. Video demographics were extracted. Video quality was evaluated using audio-visual (AV) quality, video information and quality index (VIQI), global quality score (GQS), and reliability using a modified DISCERN tool (mDISCERN). High and low-content videos were defined based on the customized 10-point scoring system. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of scoring system were calculated.

RESULTS

Most videos were educational (46.3%), presented by dental sleep medicine specialists (42.6%), and aimed at laypersons (63%), with the majority originating from the United States (79.6%). The final 54 videos were categorized as high-content (n = 29, 54%) and low-content (n = 25, 46%). High-content videos had more views, comments, and longer video durations (7.07 ± 6.04 min). Significant differences (p < .05) were observed among high and low-content videos in total VIQI, mDISCERN, GQS, and TCS. Moderate correlations were found between GQS and TCS (r = 0.721), mDISCERN and VIQI (r = 0.649), GQS and VIQI (r = 0.601), and AV quality and VIQI (r = 0.531).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights variable content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on oral appliance therapy for OSA, emphasizing the need for guidelines to enhance their educational value and deliver reliable, evidence-based information to patients.

Suprapubic catheter change: Evaluating YouTube videos as a resource for teaching junior doctors

Objectives

The objectives of this study are to assess the current level of experience and teaching practices for SPC change at our institution and, second, to assess the quality of YouTube videos as an educational tool for teaching SPC change.

Methods

A survey was conducted of 40 JMOs at our institution regarding SPC change. The first 20 YouTube videos on SPC change were included for analysis. A JAMA and DISCERN score was calculated for each video. Using linear regression, the association between collected variables and the assigned JAMA and DISCERN scores were determined.

Results

The survey showed that 18 (45%) of JMOs had done an SPC change. None had received formal teaching. The consensus was that the quality of the YouTube videos was poor. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the score assigned to videos by each scoring system (Pearson's r 0.81, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant association between video quality as measured by either of the scoring systems and number of views. No association between any video characteristic and JAMA and DISCERN score was found.

Conclusion

An SPC change is often a requirement of JMOs; however, this skill is not formally taught. The quality of YouTube videos describing an SPC change is poor.

YouTube as a source of information for pressure injury: Quality assessment and content analysis

We aimed to assess the quality and reliability of pressure injury-related videos uploaded on YouTube, analyse the sources and contents, and examine the correlation between video parameters. We searched YouTube using two keywords, "pressure ulcer" and "pressure sore", on August 20, 2022. We sorted the videos according to their number of views and included the top 100 videos for each keyword. The quality of videos was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), while their reliability was evaluated by the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool. In addition, we evaluated the videos in which content was included, analysed the correlations and differences between GQS, mDISCERN, and video parameters. We initially found a total of 100 videos for each keyword and finally included and analysed 77 videos. The mean scores for the mDISCERN and GQS were 2.35 ± 0.98 and 3.09 ± 0.99, respectively. Both GQS and mDISCERN showed statistically significant correlations with each other (rho = 0.54, p < 0.0001*) and with the length of the videos, respectively (rho = 0.36, p = 0.001*), (rho = 0.29, p = 0.01*). Of the videos created by physicians, 8 (57.1%) included content related to treatment, while of the videos created by nonphysician health personnel, 22 (57.9%) included content related to prevention. Analysing whether there were differences in video parameters based on the sources, we observed significant differences between sources in GQS (p < 0.0001*), mDISCERN (p < 0.0001*), and video length (p = 0.001*). In the post-hoc analysis, videos uploaded by physicians or nonphysician health personnel showed higher quality and reliability than videos uploaded by other sources. Therefore, the results of this study could be useful for healthcare providers, as well as patients and caregivers, to search for high-quality and reliable YouTube videos related to pressure injury.

A content analysis of YouTube videos on palliative care: understanding the quality and availability of online resources

Background

Improvement in quality care is an important aspect of palliative care for individuals with serious illnesses. Palliative care is a multidisciplinary strategy that addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. As technology advances, digital media - especially YouTube - has come to serve as a virtual educational platform, offering resources for health-related information, including information about palliative care.

Objectives

In this research, the main goal was to evaluate the quality and availability of online resources related to palliative care.

Design

Two theoretical frameworks were used: the Health Communication Model and the Information Quality Framework. These frameworks offer a way to understand how YouTube videos contribute to palliative care information and assess the quality of that information.

Methods

This study utilizes a quantitative analysis approach to assess the quality and accessibility of YouTube videos on palliative care. Specifically, a random sample of 300 YouTube videos addressing palliative care was examined. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, including the frequency and distribution of the different types of content, sources, and quality indicators. Chi-square tests were done to compare the quality of information provided by different sources and types of content.

Results

The results showed a variety of video types, with educational videos being the most common (40%), followed by personal stories (26.7%) and promotional videos (16.7%). We found that healthcare organizations (30%) and individual content creators (46.7%) were the sources for these videos.

Conclusion

There were varying scores in terms of accuracy, completeness, and relevance when it came to quality assessment. While many videos received excellent ratings, some received poor ratings. Additionally, this analysis revealed that the majority of these videos were in English (83.3%), which poses a limitation for non-English speakers who may have difficulty understanding them.

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.

'How to stop a nosebleed': a combined objective and subjective assessment of YouTube videos on first-aid management of epistaxis

OBJECTIVE

A previous study in 2016 found that the quality of YouTube videos on epistaxis first-aid management was highly variable. This study aimed to reassess the accuracy and patient understandability of such YouTube videos.

METHOD

YouTube was searched using the phrase 'How to stop a nosebleed'. The highest 50 ranking videos, based on relevance, were screened. Each video was assessed objectively using a standardised 'advice score', and subjectively using a video understandability and actionability checklist, the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials ('PEMAT-A/V').

RESULTS

The mean advice score was 4.1 out of 8. The mean (standard deviation) understandability and actionability scores were 76 per cent (17 per cent) and 89 per cent (18 per cent), respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between the actionability scores and the advice scores (ρ = 0.634; p < 0.001), and between the actionability scores and the understandability scores (ρ = 0.519; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

YouTube videos are providing increasingly relevant advice for patients seeking healthcare information. YouTube is proposed as a useful medium for teaching epistaxis management to patients and community practitioners.

The reliability and quality of YouTube videos as a source of breath holding spell

BACKGROUND

Breath holding spells (BHS) are an important non-epileptic condition that is common in childhood and causes concern to families. YouTube is a powerful social media tool for accessing diseases and information such as BHS in child health. The aim of the study was to measure of the quality and reliability levels of the videos published in English on BHS uploaded on YouTube.

METHODS

The key words "infant", "cry", "breath holding spells", holding spells" and "breath spells" were searched on the YouTube on November 14, 2022, in this study. Along with the general features of the videos, their quality and reliability were evaluated according to the global quality score (GQS), mDISCERN score.

RESULTS

Fifty-five videos were evaluated. The mDISCERN and GQS scores of the videos in the useful group were higher than those in the misleading group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). In the useful group, 87.5% of academic institutions and 93.3% of medical doctors (MDs) uploaded high-score GQS videos, while this rate was 16.7% in independent users (p = 0.005). The positive correlation was found between mDISCERN and GQS scores (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The majority of YouTube videos on BHS contained useful information with sufficient quality. Professional associations such as universities and academic institutes need to produce better quality videos to provide families/users with more accurate and up-to-date information about BHS. We emphasize that YouTube should analyse videos published in the field of health, especially in the field of pediatrics, such as BHS, with committees consisting of expert health professionals, and publish them after evaluation. YouTube should consider collaborating with professional pediatrics health organizations such as American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), academic institutes and universities in the field of BHS to produce high-quality videos.

Critical evaluation of YouTube videos regarding the all-on-4 dental implant treatment concept: A content-quality analysis

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Rehabilitation of complete edentulous arches by using the all-on-4 dental implant treatment concept is a well-established procedure. Considering the popularity of YouTube as a source for health-related information, a thorough investigation of the content-quality and reliability of videos regarding the all-on-4 concept is lacking.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to critically appraise the content-quality and reliability of YouTube videos regarding the all-on-4 dental implant treatment concept as a source of information for patients, students, and dentists.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed on the YouTube website using the specific keyword "All-on-4," which was identified as the most appropriate search term by the Google Trends website. Only English language videos regarding the all-on-4 dental implant treatment concept were included for systematic analyses. Following the eligibility criteria, the included videos were assessed for their demographic characteristics and quality-content. Based on the content score, the videos were categorized as low content (LC) and moderate + high content (MHC) groups. Further, qualitative analyses were performed by using the DISCERN tool and a global quality (GQ) scale. Statistical analyses were conducted by using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Spearman correlation analysis (α=.05).

RESULTS

Of 250 screened videos, only 73 were eligible for final analyses. The included videos presented an average 123 846 (range, 4 to 3 182 404) views with a mean duration of 528 (range, 12 to 1699) seconds. In addition, the average number of likes was 1122 (range, 0 to 3300), but, remarkably, none of the included videos received any dislikes. Overall, the mean content-quality score was 6.2 ±3.8, thus indicating low-quality content. The average DISCERN and GQ scores were 47.73 ±9.94 and 3.41 ±0.95, with the Spearman rank correlation test showing a strong positive correlation (r=.732; P<.001) among the total obtained scores. Moreover, statistically significant differences were reported between the LC and MHC groups for both DISCERN and GQ scores (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The reliability of YouTube videos regarding the all-on-4 dental implant treatment concept is questionable, as they exhibit poor content-quality, thus making them an unreliable source for patients, students, and dentists seeking accurate information.

Users' experience with health-related content on YouTube: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND

This study focuses on health-related content (HRC) on YouTube and addresses the issue of misinformation on this platform. While previous research centered on content evaluations by experts, this study takes a user-centered approach and aims to explore users' experiences with and perceptions of HRC videos and to establish links between these perceptions and some socio-demographic characteristics including age, gender, profession, and educational level.

METHODS

A quantitative research design was used in the study. 3,000 YouTube users responded to a 35-item anonymous questionnaire to collect information about the content they watch toward decision-making, their perceptions of the usefulness and bias of this content, what they identify as quality indicators for HRC, and what they recommend to improve the quality of such content on YouTube. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency, and correlation analyses.

RESULTS

The results reveal that 87.6 percent (n=2630) of the participants watch HRC on YouTube, and 84.7 percent (n=2542) make decisions based on what they watch. Exercise and bodybuilding videos are the most popular, with over half of the participants watching them. 40 percent of the users watch YouTube videos to decide whether to consult a doctor or adopt specific health-related practices. In contrast to evaluations by experts in previous studies, most respondents perceive HRC videos on YouTube as useful and do not find connections between video quality and surface features like the number of views and likes. Weak or no correlations were observed between the perceived usefulness of HRC videos and age, gender, profession, or educational level. Participants' recommendations for enhancing HRC quality align with previous research findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Users turn to YouTube not only for health information but also as a decision-making tool. Combined with their generally positive attitudes towards content quality on this platform, this can have significant consequences for their health. Follow-up studies are needed to get more insights into decision-making behaviors and how users assess their decisions in retrospect.

Bilibili, TikTok, and YouTube as sources of information on gastric cancer: assessment and analysis of the content and quality

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer has attracted widespread attention on social media due to its high incidence and severity. The Bilibili, TikTok, and YouTube video-sharing platforms have received considerable interest among general health consumers. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the information in videos on these platforms is of satisfactory content and quality.

METHODS

A total of 300 eligible videos related to gastric cancer were screened from three video-sharing platforms, Bilibili, TikTok, and YouTube, for assessment and analysis. First, the basic information presented in the videos was recorded. Next, we identified the source and content type of each video. Then, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and Modified DISCERN were used to assess the educational content and quality of each video. A comparative analysis was undertaken of the videos procured from these three sources.

RESULTS

We identified six categories of uploaders of the 300 videos: 159 videos (53%) were uploaded by health professionals, 21 videos (7%) by users in science communications, 29 videos (9.67%) by general users, 27 videos (9%) from news agencies, 63 videos (12%) by nonprofit organizations, and one video (0.33%) by a for-profit organization. In terms of the content types of the 300 videos, we identified five distinct categories. There were 48 videos (16%) on early signals, 12 videos (4%) on late symptoms, 40 videos (13.33%) on etiologies and causations, 160 videos (53.33%) on scientific introductions, and 40 videos (13.33%) on treatment methods. The overall quality of the videos was evaluated by the GQS, JAMA, and Modified DISCERN and was found to be medium, with scores of 2.6/5, 2.41/4, and 2.71/5 points, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This innovative study demonstrates that videos on social media platforms can help the public learn about early signals, late symptoms, treatment methods, etiologies and causations, and scientific introductions of gastric cancer. However, both the content and quality of uploaded recordings are inadequate currently. More efforts should be made to enhance the content and quality of videos on gastric cancer and to increase public awareness.