Popularity and worldwide reach of targeted, evidence-based internet streaming video interventions focused on men's health topics

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.

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.

Content quality and reliability of the YouTube videos about chronic prostatitis

Background

YouTube is one of the most used social media platforms for accessing health information.

Objective

To evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos about chronic prostatitis.

Methods

YouTube search using the keywords "kronik prostatit" for Turkish videos and 'chronic prostatitis' for English videos were done. The videos were evaluated through modified-Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and Video Power Index (VPI) scoring systems. The characters of the videos were also recorded and analyzed.

Results

Of the 65 Turkish videos, videos of health professions (HPv) were uploaded 58 and seven videos of non-professional in health (NPv). There were no significant differences between the views, like counts, VPI, or the content quality and reliability of HPv and NPv. Of the 62 English videos, videos of HP were uploaded 40 and 22 videos of non-professional in health. Although HPv were found to have greater DISCERN and JAMA values, Lv had more views, view ratio, and Video Power Index than HPv. When all 127 videos were evaluated regardless of the language, NPv were found to have more total views and ratings, but there were no significant differences between like ratio, VPI, DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS values between the two groups.

Conclusion

Most YouTube videos about chronic prostatitis did not have enough quality and reliable information. Health associations should be more attentive to posting more content videos of sufficient quality and reliability on social media platforms.

Educational Quality of YouTube Videos for Patients Undergoing Elective Procedures

INTRODUCTION

YouTube has become a main resource used by patients for self-education on medicine. It is important for surgeons to understand the quality and reliability of videos that patients are likely to view about elective procedures.

METHODS

Videos were categorized by view count and content creators. The top 20 videos for each term, sorted by relevance, were evaluated using DISCERN criteria, a question set externally validated to assess the quality of information regarding health treatment choices. DISCERN score (DS) closer to 5 indicate higher quality information and 1 indicates the opposite. Total scores were given: 15-26 (very poor), 27-38 (poor), 39-50 (fair), 51-62 (very good), and 63-75 (excellent). Search terms included "Wound Care", "Skin Grafting", "Tracheostomy", and "percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement".

RESULTS

In total, 80 unique videos were evaluated with a total view of 8,848,796. The mean overall DS was 2.15 and a mean bias DS was 2.46. The median DISCERN total score for each key term was Tracheostomy: 35 (poor), Skin Grafting 26 (very poor), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: 32 (poor), and Wound Care: 40 (fair).

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube videos surrounding elective procedures should be viewed cautiously in patient education despite wide availability. The videos in this study show high levels of bias and low DS. Healthcare providers should be aware of poor-quality consumer health information often disseminated in online media such as YouTube.

Assessing the Performance of Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT) in Answering Andrology-Related Questions

OBJECTIVE

The internet and social media have become primary sources of health information, with men frequently turning to these platforms before seeking professional help. Chat generative pretrained transformer (ChatGPT), an artificial intelligence model developed by OpenAI, has gained popularity as a natural language processing program. The present study evaluated the accuracy and reproducibility of ChatGPT's responses to andrology-related questions.

METHODS

The study analyzed frequently asked andrology questions from health forums, hospital websites, and social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Questions were categorized into topics like male hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, etc. The European Association of Urology (EAU) guideline recommendations were also included. These questions were input into ChatGPT, and responses were evaluated by 3 experienced urologists who scored them on a scale of 1 to 4.

RESULTS

Out of 136 evaluated questions, 108 met the criteria. Of these, 87.9% received correct and adequate answers, 9.3% were correct but insufficient, and 3 responses contained both correct and incorrect information. No question was answered completely wrong. The highest correct answer rates were for disorders of ejaculation, penile curvature, and male hypogonadism. The EAU guideline-based questions achieved a correctness rate of 86.3%. The reproducibility of the answers was over 90%.

CONCLUSION

The study found that ChatGPT provided accurate and reliable answers to over 80% of andrology-related questions. While limitations exist, such as potential outdated data and inability to understand emotional aspects, ChatGPT's potential in the health-care sector is promising. Collaborating with health-care professionals during artificial intelligence model development could enhance its reliability.

Is Arabic Information on YouTube About Erectile Dysfunction Based on Scientific Evidence?

Background

Online medical education is critical for public health literacy and physician efficacy, but it must be trustworthy. Although it has the potential to be a useful resource for medical education, users must be able to identify reliable content.

Objective

To assess the scientific quality of Arabic-language video content related to erectile dysfunction that is available on YouTube to learn what information our patients can handle online.

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive search of the YouTube database was carried out to identify videos related to erectile dysfunction published in Arabic. The search was conducted using the following keywords: "Erectile dysfunction", "Sexual dysfunction" and "Impotence". Without a time, limit, the search was carried out until January 1, 2023. The quality assessment of the videos was done using the Kappa score.

Results

The videos in our sample had up to one million views (average 2,627,485.6), and the kappa index was 0.86 (p <0.001). Of these videos, 16% were considered scientific evidence-based (SEB), and 84% were considered not scientific evidence-based (NSEB) (p <0.001). The NSEB group addressed details concerning natural remedies, the Psychosocial sphere, and lifestyle, whereas the SEB group tended to be more concerned with physiopathology, etiology, endothelial dysfunction, diagnosis, psychosocial treatment, oral treatment, injections, or prosthesis.

Conclusion

On social media, misleading or incorrect information about erectile dysfunction is widely disseminated. This research may support urological and technical oversight and emphasizes guiding patients to the best men's health options.

From fearful to hopeful: A thematic content analysis of COVID-19 survivors' YouTube videos

COVID-19 survivors experienced a spectrum of emotions as a result of surviving the said disease. Employing thematic content analysis, the researchers characterized the various emotional manifestations among recovered COVID-19 patients, which are crucial indicators of their mental well-being postinfection. From March 2020 to June 2021, data was collated from 31 Filipino COVID-19 Survivors' YouTube videos. 51.61% of the videos were posted in 2020 and 48.39% were posted in 2021 where 70.97% of the survivors were female while 29.03% were male. 579 primary codes emerged and were narrowed down into sixteen themes where Hope (18.83%) arose as the most predominant emotion followed by Gratitude (14.68%), Joy and Relief (14.16%), Faith (11.57%), Plight Response (10.88%), Sadness (10.88%), Fear (6.39%), and nine others (12.61%).

Guideline-Nonconformant Investigational Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction: What are Patients Learning?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the validity of YouTube content on shockwave, platelet-rich plasma, and stem cell therapies for erectile dysfunction (ED). The consumerization of men's health is particularly notable among regenerative ED treatments, and the popularity of these treatments has been amplified by social media sites such as YouTube.

METHODS

We searched YouTube utilizing the following terms: "shockwave therapy-," "platelet-rich plasma- and "stem cell therapy-" "-for erectile dysfunction." The first 50 resulting videos per query were screened (inclusion criteria: relevant title/content, English language, >100 views) and judged by 2 independent graders using the validated DISCERN instrument for consumer health information. Regression analysis assessed association of video characteristics with DISCERN score.

RESULTS

Seventy-one unique videos met criteria. More content featured non-physicians (37%) or non-urologist physicians (35%) than urologists (28%). Mean DISCERN score was low at 42.8 of 80. DISCERN score significantly differed by video category and characteristics. Educational and urologist-featuring videos were associated with higher score. News reports were associated with lower score. Only 3 videos mentioned investigational/experimental status of the therapies. Only 2 cited society guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Most YouTube videos on regenerative ED therapies are unreliable and from non-urologists. The misrepresentation of proven efficacy may be encouraging patients to seek these still investigational treatments at high fiscal costs to the patient. Videos with urologists were more likely to be higher quality and guideline based. The urological and academic communities should continue to leverage the power of social media to provide evidence-backed consumer health information in this space.

Development of a video-based evidence synthesis knowledge translation resource: Drawing on a user-centred design approach

Objectives

We aimed to develop a video animation knowledge translation (KT) resource to explain the purpose, use and importance of evidence synthesis to the public regarding healthcare decision-making.

Methods

We drew on a user-centred design approach to develop a spoken animated video (SAV) by conducting two cycles of idea generation, prototyping, user testing, analysis, and refinement. Six researchers identified the initial key messages of the SAV and informed the first draft of the storyboard and script. Seven members of the public provided input on this draft and the key messages through think-aloud interviews, which we used to develop an SAV prototype. Seven additional members of the public participated in think-aloud interviews while watching the video prototype. All members of the public also completed a questionnaire on perceived usefulness, desirability, clarity and credibility. We subsequently synthesised all data to develop the final SAV.

Results

Researchers identified the initial key messages as 1) the importance of evidence synthesis, 2) what an evidence synthesis is and 3) how evidence synthesis can impact healthcare decision-making. Members of the public rated the initial video prototype as 9/10 for usefulness, 8/10 for desirability, 8/10 for clarity and 9/10 for credibility. Using their guidance and feedback, we produced a three-and-a-half-minute video animation. The video was uploaded on YouTube, has since been translated into two languages, and viewed over 12,000 times to date.

Conclusions

Drawing on user-centred design methods provided a structured and transparent approach to the development of our SAV. Involving members of the public enhanced the credibility and usefulness of the resource. Future work could explore involving the public from the outset to identify key messages in developing KT resources explaining methodological topics. This study describes the systematic development of a KT resource with limited resources and provides transferrable learnings for others wishing to do similar.

Assessment of information on YouTube on the effect of acupuncture in patients with COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Medical-related information rapidly spreads throughout the internet. However, these types of information often contain inaccurate information, which can lead to harmful misconceptions. In this study, we evaluated the reliability, quality, and accuracy of videos uploaded on YouTube that harbor claims on the effects of acupuncture on COVID-19 treatment. This is a cross-sectional study. Videos uploaded on YouTube up to February 17, 2022, were searched, and the keywords used were as follows: "acupuncture," "coronavirus," "COVID 19," "COVID-19," "Corona," "COVID," and "SARSCoV2." The top 50 videos in English were viewed and evaluated. The reliability of the videos was evaluated using the modified DISCERN scale, the content-quality was evaluated using the Global Quality Scale. The accuracy of the information in each video was evaluated as well. Of the 50 videos, only 8% were found to be reliable and 64% were of poor quality. Additionally, 98% of the videos were misleading. The mean modified DISCERN scores was 1.72 and the mean Global Quality Scale score was 2.06. Despite the videos being made by experts, their reliability, content-quality, and accuracy were found to be low. The spread of inaccurate information may result in the use of inappropriate and potentially harmful treatment methods for patients. Videos that contain medical information should be produced based on verified scientific evidence.

What to watch: Practical considerations and strategies for using YouTube for research

YouTube is the second-most visited webpage in the world and boasts over 2 billion users and 500 h of videos uploaded every hour. Despite this popularity, relatively few articles have discussed the practical use of searching and YouTube as a research tool and source of data. The purpose of our paper is to propose a step-by-step schematic for utilizing the YouTube platform. Our discussions include (a) when/whether to use YouTube for research; (b) selecting an appropriate research design; (c) how to search for YouTube data; (d) what data can be pulled from YouTube; and (e) the contextual limitations for interpreting YouTube data. Further, we provide practical strategies and considerations when searching, collecting, or interpreting YouTube data. These discussions are informed by our own work using the YouTube platform. Effective methods used to search for YouTube data are likely to extend beyond simply searching the platform itself; the search strategy and search results themselves should also be documented. While not exhaustive, we feel these considerations and strategies present themselves as a conceptual foothold for future research using the YouTube platform.

Assessing the Impact of Online Health Education Interventions From 2010-2020: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

OBJECTIVE

Systematically review the evaluation and impact of online health education interventions: assess approaches used, summarize main findings, and identify knowledge gaps.

DATA SOURCE

We searched the following databases: EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE, and Web of Science.

STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Studies were included if (a) published in English between 2010-2020 in a peer-reviewed journal (b) reported an online health education intervention aimed at consumers, caregivers, and the public (c) evaluated implementation OR participant outcomes (d) included ≥ 100 participants per study arm.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two authors extracted data using a standardized form.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Data synthesis was structured around the primary outcomes of the included studies.

RESULTS

26 studies met the inclusion criteria. We found substantial heterogeneity in study population, design, intervention, and primary outcomes, and significant methodological issues that resulted in moderate to high risk of bias. Overall, interventions that were available to all (e.g., on YouTube) consistently attained a large global reach, and knowledge was consistently improved. However, the impact on other outcomes of interest (e.g., health literacy, health behaviors) remains unclear.

CONCLUSION

Evidence around the impacts of the type of online health education interventions assessed in this review is sparse. A greater understanding of who online interventions work for and what outcomes can be achieved is crucial to determine, and potentially expand, their place in health education.

YouTube and Men's Health: A Review of the Current Literature

INTRODUCTION

YouTube is the most used social media website, and there is a growing body of literature examining the reliability of healthcare information on this platform. Patients seeking men's health information may be more likely to use YouTube owing to the sensitivity of these issues.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to review the literature for studies related to the reliability of YouTube videos about men's health topics.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for publications related to the reliability of YouTube videos about men's health as of July 1, 2020.

RESULTS

There were 17 studies related to YouTube and Men's Health. Most videos were found to be unreliable, and videos uploaded by physicians or healthcare organizations were usually more reliable. However, there were no studies in which more reliable videos had higher metrics of user engagement (views, likes, comments) than unreliable videos and there were several studies where unreliable videos had higher metrics of user engagement. In addition, the methods used to evaluate YouTube videos are not uniform across studies including the way that terms are searched (filtering by relevance vs view count) and the way in which reliability is assessed. For example, some studies create custom evaluation forms based on clinical guidelines, whereas others use validated questionnaires. The only validated questionnaire used across multiple studies was the DISCERN score criterion.

CONCLUSIONS

Most information on YouTube about men's health is unreliable. Videos created by physicians and healthcare organizations are more reliable, and videos that are advertisements are less reliable. Physicians and healthcare systems should continue to upload educational YouTube videos but work to increase their views and user engagement. It may benefit patients if physician organizations could work with YouTube to create verified videos disseminating healthcare information that are favored in the search algorithm. Warren CJ, Sawhney R, Shah T, et al. YouTube and Men's Health: A Review of the Current Literature. Sex Med Rev 2021;9:280-288.