Evaluation of the Reliability, Utility, and Quality of the Information in Sleeve Gastrectomy Videos Shared on Open Access Video Sharing Platform YouTube

Characteristics, reliability, and quality of YouTube videos on meralgia paresthetica: a descriptive cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate YouTube videos on meralgia paresthetica (MP) for reliability, quality, and differences between quality levels.

METHODS

We analyzed 59 videos related to MP. We evaluated several video characteristics, including views, likes, dislikes, duration, and speaker profile. We used view ratio, like ratio, Video Power Index (VPI), Global Quality Scale (GQS), JAMA criteria, and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) to assess viewer engagement, popularity, educational quality, and reliability.

RESULTS

The videos received a total of 4,009,141 views (average 67,951.54), with 25.4% focused on exercise training and 23.7% focused on disease information. Mean scores were mDISCERN 2.4, GQS 2.8, and JAMA 2.1. Physician-led videos had higher mDISCERN scores, while allied health worker-led videos had more views, likes, dislikes, view ratios, and VPI. Poor and high-quality videos differed in views, likes, view ratio, VPI, and duration. Positive correlations existed among mDISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores, with video duration positively correlated with GQS.

CONCLUSION

The content of YouTube videos discussing diseases significantly influences viewer engagement and popularity. To enhance the availability of valuable content on YouTube, which lacks a peer review process, medical professionals must contribute high-quality educational materials tailored to their target audience.

Survey of Information Acquisition and Satisfaction after Bariatric Surgery at a Tertiary Hospital in Korea

Background

To determine how patients who underwent bariatric surgery at a tertiary hospital in Korea first considered and then decided to get the surgery and identify information gaps among patients and healthcare professionals.

Methods

This study included 21 patients who underwent bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥35 or ≥30 kg/m2 together with obesity-related comorbidities) between August 2020 and February 2022. A telephone interview was conducted with the patients after at least 6 months had elapsed since the surgery. We asked how the patients decided to undergo bariatric surgery. We also inquired about their satisfaction with and concerns about the surgery.

Results

Seventy-one percent of the patients were introduced to bariatric surgery following a recommendation from healthcare professionals, acquaintances, or social media. Most of the patients (52%) decided to undergo bariatric surgery based on recommendations from healthcare professionals in non-surgical departments. Satisfaction with the information provided differed among the patients. Post-surgical concerns were related to postoperative symptoms, weight regain, and psychological illness.

Conclusion

Efforts are needed to raise awareness about bariatric surgery among healthcare professionals and the public. Tailored pre- and postoperative consultation may improve quality of life after bariatric surgery.

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.

Quality of Pelvic Floor Therapy Videos on YouTube: Does Popularity Predict Reliability?

ABSTRACT

This study reviewed instructional videos on YouTube regarding pelvic floor physical therapy and assessed the association between the videos' popularity and the reliability of the videos' content. YouTube was searched using the terms relevant to pelvic floor muscle training. The first 100 videos for each search term were screened, and relevant metrics were collected for those meeting the inclusion criteria. Videos were assessed by 2 independent, trained health care professionals for reliability using the Medical Quality Video Evaluation (MQ-VET) tool, the modified DISCERN tool, the Journal of American Medical Association benchmark criteria, and the Global Quality Score. Popularity was assessed using the Video Power Index (VPI). Higher values for all scoring systems correlated with greater reliability and greater popularity, respectively. Five hundred videos were screened. Two hundred thirty-four videos were duplicates, and 99 did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 167 videos were reviewed. The median VPI and MQ-VET score was 201,114.76 (interquartile range, 7,194,020.29) and 48.00 (interquartile range, 12.75), respectively. Spearman's R value was 0.292 (P < 0.001), demonstrating a weak positive correlation between MQ-VET scores and VPI. The interrater reliability of the MQ-VET was good, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.92). In summary, we identified a statistically significant but weak positive correlation between the reliability and popularity of YouTube videos about pelvic floor physical therapy.

A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Analysis of Speech, Hearing, and Feeding in YouTube Videos: A Brief Communication

OBJECTIVE

Healthcare information on YouTube is often inaccurate or insufficient. However, parents turn to social media for answers about their children's health conditions. Understanding the nature of content in specified scope of practice areas can help professionals clarify misinformation or utilize quality YouTube content in clinical context. This research examined: (1) meta-data and upload source; (2) understandability and actionability; and (3) content quality and clinical utility of YouTube videos related to speech, hearing, and feeding with children with cleft lip and palate (CLP).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Videos related to speech, hearing, and feeding with children with CLP were obtained. Meta-data and upload source were identified. The Patient Education Material Assessment Tool-AudioVisual (PEMAT-AV) was used to assess understandability and actionability. The DISCERN instrument was used to evaluate content quality. Responses to open-ended questions were used to evaluate clinical utility.

RESULTS

Of 652 videos reviewed for potential inclusion, only 33 met the inclusion criteria. Of those, only 17 met adequate levels of both understandability and actionability. Results of DISCERN indicated that the videos were of fair quality. Analysis of clinical utility indicated that none of the videos should be used as stand-alone parent education materials.

CONCLUSIONS

Videos pertaining to speech, hearing and feeding issues are not viewed as frequently as videos addressing other areas of CLP. Our findings are consistent with previous reports that the videos related to CLP may be limited in their clinical utility. Professionals are needed to interpret the offerings and guide families to appropriate videos.

Assessment of the reliability and quality of breast cancer related videos on TikTok and Bilibili: cross-sectional study in China

Background

As the most common malignant tumor in the world, breast cancer also brings a huge disease burden to China. Ordinary people are increasingly inclined to use the Internet, especially video social platforms, as a source of health information. Educating the public to obtain correct information is important to reduce the incidence of breast cancer and improve the prognosis. However, the quality and reliability of breast cancer-related video content have not been fully studied.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the quality of the information of breast cancer-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili video sharing platforms and factors related to video quality.

Methods

We collected the top 100 videos about breast cancer on TikTok and Bilibili, respectively. Categorize videos according to video source and video content. Video quality and reliability were assessed using Global Quality Score (GQS) and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tools. We also analyzed the correlation between video quality and video likes, comments, saves, and shares.

Results

Although the quality and reliability of Bilibili's breast cancer videos were higher than TikTok (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively), the video quality of both video sharing platforms was not satisfactory, with a median GQS scores of 2.00 and 3.00 and mDISCERN scores of 1.00 and 2.00, respectively. In general, the quality and reliability of videos released by medical practitioners were higher than those of non-medical practitioners, and the quality and reliability of videos covering disease-related knowledge were higher than those of news reports (all p < 0.001). Among medical practitioners, the quality of videos uploaded by doctors in breast disease was significantly lower than that of doctors in other areas (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between video quality and duration (r = 0.240, p < 0.001), a weak negative correlation between video quality and likes (r = 0.191, p < 0.01), video quality and comments (r = 0.256, p < 0.001), video reliability and likes (r = 0.198, p < 0.001), video reliability and comments (r = 0.243, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Our study shows that the quality and reliability of breast cancer-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili are poor, and the overall quality is unsatisfactory. But videos uploaded by medical practitioners covering disease knowledge, prevention and treatment are of higher quality. Medical practitioners are encouraged to publish more high-quality videos, while video social platforms should formulate relevant policies to censor and supervise health education videos, so as to enable the public to obtain reliable health information.

Quality assessment of online osteosarcoma-related videos in Mainland China: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Information about orthopedics diseases on the Internet has not been extensively assessed. Our purpose was to evaluate the quality of online information of osteosarcoma on current video-sharing platforms in mainland China.

METHOD

TikTok and Bilibili were independently queried from June to July 2023 by four independent researchers using the Microsoft Edge web browser. Information about the videos and creators was recorded, and descriptive analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

After data extraction, a total of 95 videos were included, in which 43 videos were uploaded by certified doctors (45.3%), with 35 videos (36.8%) uploaded by certified orthopedic surgeons. Of the content of these videos, 78.9% were introduction (n = 75), 64.2% were on professional knowledge (n = 61), 28.4% were on treatment (n = 27), while 5.3% were on surgical techniques (n = 5). The mean DISCERN total score was 43.8 ± 13.4, and the mean JAMA score was 3.8 ± 0.3.

CONCLUSIONS

Videos about osteosarcoma on current video-sharing platforms were extensive, but were not comprehensive and professional. Although current online videos have the potential to improve public awareness on osteosarcoma, due to their quality and content, were not assessed to be good sources for medical education.

Evaluation of the reliability and educational quality of YouTube™ videos on sport nutrition topics

BACKGROUND

YouTube is one of the most widespread social media channels, which is of growing importance in science communication and health education. The validity of medical and health-related information available on YouTube cannot be assured, and videos often contain potentially misleading or inaccurate information. Communication on sport nutrition may have a profound effect on the change in nutrition behavior among athletes, so evidence-based nutrition information must reach athletes. The main goal of the research is to evaluate the quality, reliability, and applicability of sports nutrition YouTube videos as educational material for athletes.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional design was applied, and a systematic search was performed on YouTube. The quality and reliability of the videos were evaluated by applying the most frequently used and highly reliable scoring systems in the literature (e.g., DISCERN, Global Quality Score, and JAMA criteria) and a sports nutrition-specific scoring system (SNSS). Descriptive statistical analyses, two-sample t-test, Spearman correlation, Kruskal - Wallis, and Mann - Whitney U test were used to evaluate the results. A total of 114 YouTube videos met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

In 25% of the videos, the sports nutrition information was presented by a dietitian, while in two-thirds, coaches and athletes and other professionals shared sports nutrition knowledge. In terms of video content, the three most common topics were nutrition and health (33%), special diets (21%), and the training diet (17%). For the majority of the videos that received low GQS, JAMAS, DISCERN, and SNSS scores, the accuracy and quality of the analyzed YouTube videos on sports nutrition were inadequate. Videos uploaded by dietitians achieved significantly higher DISCERN, JAMAS, GQS, and SNSS scores. The GQS, SNSS, and DISCERN scores of videos from sports organizations, nonprofit organizations, and independent user sources were lower compared to videos uploaded by academic and professional organizations. Popular sport nutrition videos among users that contain personal stories or the experiences of athletes were deemed less reliable by experts or showed lower educational quality. Henceforth, we found a negative correlation between video popularity and JAMAS, GQS, and SNSS scores.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that sports nutrition videos on the YouTube video platform show low accuracy and reliability. Professionals working with athletes need to consider misconceptions from sports nutrition videos in their nutrition counseling practice. Due to the popularity of the videos, professionals and professional organizations could use YouTube as an online educational tool to increase the nutrition knowledge of athletes.

Evaluating YouTube as a Source of Education for Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review is to characterize the peer-reviewed literature investigating YouTube as a source of patient education for patients undergoing surgery.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

YouTube is the largest online video sharing platform and has become a substantial source of health information that patients are likely to access before surgery, yet there has been no systematic assessment of peer-reviewed studies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Ovid HealthStar from inception through to December of 2021.

METHODS

All primary studies evaluating YouTube as a source of patient education relating to surgical procedures (general, cardiac, urology, otolaryngology, plastic, vascular) were included. Study screening and data extraction occurred in duplicate with two reviewers. Characteristics extracted included video length, view count, upload source, overall video educational quality, and quality of individual studies.

RESULTS

Among 6,453 citations, 56 studies were identified that examined 6,797 videos with 547 hours of content and 1.39 billion views. There were 49 studies that evaluated the educational quality of the videos. A total of 43 quality assessment tools were used, with each study using a mean of 1.90 assessment tools. Per the global rating for assessments, 34/49 studies (69%) concluded that the overall quality of educational content was poor.

CONCLUSIONS

While the impact of non-peer-reviewed YouTube videos on patient knowledge for surgery is unclear, the large amount of online content suggests that they are in demand. The overall educational content of these videos is poor, however, and there is substantial heterogeneity in the quality assessment tools used in their evaluation. A peer-reviewed and standardized approach to online education with video content is needed to better support patients.

Evaluation of YouTube Bariatric Surgery Videos in the Context of Medical Tourism

Introduction The increasing prevalence of obesity has led to the popularity of bariatric and metabolic surgery, often sought through medical tourism due to constraints within public healthcare systems. This study aimed to examine the quality and impact of YouTube videos related to bariatric surgery within the context of medical tourism. Materials and methods In June 2023, a YouTube search for "Bariatric Surgery Medical Tourism" and "Obesity Surgery Medical Tourism" yielded the top 200 videos, from which 33 were chosen after applying exclusion criteria. These videos underwent further screening based on source, duration, and content. Quality was assessed using established scales, including the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and modified DISCERN score. Results Thirty-three videos were chosen for comprehensive analysis. Among the videos, 48.5% portrayed patient experiences in the context of medical tourism bariatric surgery, providing valuable insights. The videos had varying durations and engagement metrics, with an average GQS score of 2.09, JAMA score of 2.57, and DISCERN score of 3.06. Notably, videos depicting patient experiences had distinct characteristics and higher evaluation scores, emphasizing their significance within the study. Conclusion This study assessed YouTube videos related to bariatric surgery within the realm of medical tourism. The research illuminated diverse facets of medical tourism concerning obesity surgery and the quality of information disseminated on YouTube. Although patient experience videos received higher quality ratings, the overall reliability and content diversity underscored the potential and challenges of utilizing YouTube as an information source for medical tourism.

Evaluation of the Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos With Turkish Content as an Information Source for Gynecological Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim During the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube became a critical information source for people seeking information about several diseases, including benign and malignant gynecological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos with Turkish content as an information source for gynecological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The research was performed between December 2nd and 5th, 2020. Two gynecologists searched the terms in Turkish; 'yumurtalık kanseri, COVID-19', 'rahim kanseri, coronavirus', 'rahim ağzı kanseri, COVID-19', 'kadın üreme sistemi kanseri, coronavirus', and 'jinekolojik kanserler, COVID-19'. on YouTube. 'Yumurtalık kanseri', 'rahim kanseri', 'rahim agzı kanseri', 'kadın üreme sistemi kanserleri' and 'jinekolojik kanserler' are the translations for "ovarian cancer, COVID-19", "endometrial cancer, coronavirus", "cervical cancer, COVID-19", "female reproductive system cancers, coronavirus", and "gynecological cancers, COVID-19" in the Turkish language, respectively. Videos were categorized into three groups depending on the upload source: the informative group, the personal experience group, and the news agency group. Moreover, DISCERN, the Medical Information and Content Index (MICI), the Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI) were evaluated. Results A total of 57 videos were categorized as informative. Additionally, 22 videos and 18 videos were classified as patient experience videos and new agency videos, respectively. Patients who experienced videos had a significantly higher view number (p=0.001). The number of dislikes and DISCERN score were markedly better in favor of informative videos (p=0.009 and p=0.001). The MICI score was calculated as 13.0±1.8 for informative videos. The total VIQI score was 11.9 for informative videos, 8.8 for patient experience videos, and 7.2 for new agency videos (p = 0.001). Conclusions YouTube videos with Turkish content about gynecological cancers are easily accessible resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient-published videos are the most preferred YouTube videos by Turkish citizens, and informative videos have a considerably lower dislike rate. According to the MICI score and significantly better DISCERN and VIQI scores, informative videos have acceptable quality.

A Comparison of the Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos Uploaded by Healthcare Professionals About Scoliosis in the Past Decade

INTRODUCTION

Internet-based medical education plays a crucial role in bolstering public health awareness and the competence of medical professionals; however, it must be dependable. We aimed to examine the quality and reliability of the videos uploaded to YouTube (YouTube, LLC, San Bruno, California, United States) by professional healthcare professionals about scoliosis from 2014 to 2023.

METHODS

The study was performed between August 1 and August 15, 2023. The keywords 'scoliosis', 'scoliosis-kyphosis brace', 'scoliosis exercises', 'scoliosis surgeries', and 'scoliosis-kyphosis exercises' were searched on YouTube. Only YouTube videos uploaded by healthcare professionals between January 1, 2014, and July 31, 2023, and only videos in the English language were examined. Video characteristics were evaluated and recorded for all videos. The quality and reliability of videos were assessed with two different questionnaire scales including the modified DISCERN score and the Global Quality Score (GQS).

RESULTS

The mean number of views per video was 3778 in videos uploaded between 2014 and 2018, and 3120 in videos uploaded between 2019 and 2023 (p= 0.004). Video length and number of likes were statistically significantly lower in the videos of the last five years (p=0.001, and p=0.001). Thirty-one percent of the professional videos uploaded between 2014 and 2018 were directed at healthcare professionals. This rate was 12% in the last five years and was statistically significantly lower (p=0.001). The DISCERN score average was 3.7 between 2014 and 2018 and it was 3.2 between 2019 and 2023 (p=0.001). Similarly, the mean GQS was statistically significantly higher in the last five years compared to the five years prior (3.8 vs. 3.3, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present study determined that the quality and reliability of YouTube videos about scoliosis significantly increased in the last five years compared to the previous five years with a significant decrease in video duration. Also, among videos uploaded in the last five years, the number of videos for the patient was significantly higher. In contrast, the 'like' and 'view' numbers were significantly lower in YouTube videos about scoliosis in the last five years.

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.

The Quality of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Videos on YouTube

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

YouTube as a Patient Information Source for Tendon Repair Surgery

Background For tendon rupture, a disabling musculoskeletal injury, surgical management is considered the gold standard. The goal is to reduce complications and enable the patient to regain full mobility and strength. With the rise of modern internet accessibility and social media, YouTube has become a frequently used platform for all ages; however, the accuracy and reliability of the videos and the information therein may be a point of concern. Methodology This cross-sectional, observational study was designed to analyze tendon repair surgery information available on YouTube. Data were collected using a Google Forms questionnaire which included questions analyzing the videos and their content and the professional status of the uploaders. Quality and reliability scores were assessed through the Global Quality Score (GQS), reliability score, and Video Power Index (VPI). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). We included videos one minute to twenty minutes in length that were relevant to the topic of tendon repair surgery and in the English language. Results A total of 82 videos were evaluated, of which 67 videos were chosen. A comparison of GQS, reliability score, and VPI based on the type of uploader was done using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The association between GQS and reliability score with that of the video uploader was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Videos uploaded by hospitals had the highest GQS (4) and reliability score (4). Conclusions On comparing the uploader type, videos uploaded by hospitals had good quality and were useful for patients. The quality and reliability of the videos were almost above average. Only half discussed the signs and symptoms and even fewer discussed pre- and post-procedural care. The most important aspect, i.e., prevention, was mentioned in none of the videos. Due to our limitations, expanding the number of accounts used for search and increasing the number of videos might overcome the search algorithm.

Assessing Arabic youtube videos on herbal cancer treatment: Absence of health information quality

This study assesses the quality of the health information in Arabic YouTube videos regarding herbal cancer treatment. It also provides an overview of how the quality of video content shapes user awareness by assessing the users' engagement indicators. A simple Python tool was developed using YouTube API V3 to automate the YouTube search based on the recommendation of Google Trends. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 110 YouTube videos were selected, of which 95% were uploaded by non-experts and had a total of 8,633,569 views. The analyzed videos presented more than 40 different herbals as sources of cancer treatment; for example, Ephedra, garden cress, Green tea, Ginseng, Rosemary, and Thyme. 32.7% of the videos provided information about a single herb, 41% about mixing herbals, and 26.3% provided testimonials and success stories without pointing to specific herbs. The videos were assessed by two experts using two reliable tools, DISCERN and PEMAT, which were produced mainly for assessing health information quality. DISCERN has evaluated the reliability and quality of health information. PEMAT has assessed the understandability and actionability. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the videos represent bias and poor health information quality, with a total score of 27 out of 80 for DISCERN and 31 out of 100 for the PEMAT. The results also showed weak users' awareness regarding the content of videos with no association between user engagement indicators (likes, dislikes, VPI, views, comments) and the dimensions of the two tools. The study concludes that it is evident that YouTube, in its current form, is an inadequate Arabic source for herbal cancer treatment information. To overcome this, this study proposed the GAP framework for social media that integrated Governance, Awareness, and Proficiency.

Assessment of the quality and reliability of the information on spasticity on youtube

BACKGROUND

Youtube has become an influential source of health. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and quality of YouTube videos on spasticity.

METHODS

The keywords " spasticity, spasticity treatment, spasticity exercises" were used to search for videos. According to the search results, 180 videos were analyzed, videometric characteristics of the videos were recorded, and 2 groups were formed as health professionals and non-health professionals according to the video source. In addition, low, medium and high quality groups were formed using the global quality score (GQS). The reliability of the videos was evaluated using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) scale. Video popularity was assessed using the video power index (VPI).

RESULTS

After excluding videos that met the exclusion criteria, the remaining 68 videos were analyzed. The videos were uploaded by healthcare professionals (n = 47, 69.1%) and non-healthcare professionals (n = 21, 30.9%). The popularity (VPI), reliability (mDISCERN) and quality (GQS) of videos uploaded by healthcare professionals were significantly higher (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p = 0.021, respectively). Most of the videos were of high quality according to GQS (n = 40, 58.8%). All of the high quality videos were of healthcare professionals. The number of sources from healthcare professionals was significantly higher in high quality videos than in both low (p = 0.001) and medium (p = 0.001) quality videos.

CONCLUSION

We can conclude that most of the YouTube videos on spasticity are reliable and of high quality. However, it should be kept in mind that patients may be exposed to low-quality and unreliable videos with misleading content.

The Most Popular YouTube Videos About Shoulder Replacement Are of Poor Quality for Patient Education

Purpose

To characterize the quality of YouTube total shoulder arthroplasty videos as a source of patient information using the DISCERN instrument.

Methods

An analysis of the YouTube video library was performed, using a string of 6 search terms related to "total shoulder replacement" and "total shoulder arthroplasty" in the YouTube search engine. The first 20 videos from each search (n = 120) were selected. The top 25 most viewed videos were compiled, screened, and evaluated with the DISCERN score in the final analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlation of DISCERN scores and video characteristics. Inter-rater reliability was calculated with the conger kappa score for multiple raters.

Results

Twenty-five videos met inclusion criteria, 13 (52%) were produced by academic institutions, 7 (28%) by physicians, and 5 (20%) by commercial entities. Median total DISCERN score was 33 out of 80 (IQR: 28-44). The overall total DISCERN scores, showed no correlation with video likes or views and was negatively correlated with video power index (r = -0.75, P = .001). No association between total shoulder arthroscopy video source and DISCERN score could be demonstrated. All videos analyzed scored poorly by the DISCERN instrument.

Conclusions

The current most popular shoulder replacement videos on YouTube are low-quality patient education resources. Furthermore, our study found no correlation between video popularity, as measured by the number of views and the DISCERN score.

Clinical Relevance

Successful outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty may be influenced by the quality of information patients receive.

Is YouTube™ a good source of information for patients to understand laparoscopic fundoplication?

INTRODUCTION

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease affects 10-20% of the population, and laparoscopic fundoplication is one management option. As the most frequently accessed video-sharing website, YouTube has become a popular source of information for patients. This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the quality and demographics of patient education videos available on YouTube for laparoscopic fundoplication.

METHODS

Three searches were performed on YouTube using the phrases 'laparoscopic fundoplication', 'heartburn surgery' and 'reflux operation'. The Health on The Net (HON) code, DISCERN and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) systems were used to score the first 75 results from each query. Information about each video was collected, including number of views, time since posting, number of comments and the author of the video. Relationships between these variables and video quality were investigated.

RESULTS

The median number of views was 3,793. The most common author category was videos produced by surgeons. Overall the quality was poor, mean HON score was 2.5/8, mean DISCERN score was 29.3/80 and mean JAMA score was 1.5/4. Surgeon-authored videos scored higher when scored using the HON and JAMA systems. Videos of longer duration scored higher using all three scoring systems. No other factors were found to be associated with video quality.

CONCLUSION

The quality of information in YouTube videos on laparoscopic fundoplication is unreliable. Doctors should be aware of this and caution their patients of YouTube's limitations. Further research is needed to develop validated scoring systems for evaluating the quality of patient education videos.

Online patient literature related to oesophageal surgery: the need for greater readability, accreditation and higher quality

INTRODUCTION

Oesophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of death worldwide but is treatable through surgery. As part of the consenting process, surgeons may guide patients towards online information leaflets to understand more about their condition and treatment. This review aimed to systematically analyse some of the current resources that can be accessed via the internet.

METHODS

A stringent search criteria was used to select online patient information leaflets for oesophageal cancer surgery. Leaflets were scored based on the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score, DISCERN score, Health on the Net Code of Conduct (HONcode) certification/Information Standard Certification and International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) score.

FINDINGS

Only five sites had achieved HONcode certification. Only three sources were deemed readable using the Flesch-Kincaid scoring system and no sources reached the recommended readability using IPDAS. No source reached a maximum score with DISCERN, with the mean overall quality being 2.98. There was no significant difference between accredited and unaccredited sources. From our sample, patient information sources on oesophageal cancer surgery have a low readability.

CONCLUSIONS

More research is required to ascertain patient behaviour with regards to accessing the literature. Patients and healthcare professionals should liaise with each other to produce more readable, high-quality patient information on oesophageal cancer surgery.

YouTube as a complementary learning tool in times of COVID-19: Self-reports from sports science students

OBJECTIVES

This study reports on sports science students' educational experience in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and explores their interactions with online technologies, exclusively for learning purposes.

METHODS

A total of 181 Tunisian final-year sports science students were surveyed using, a custom-designed questionnaire, following the end of the academic year 2020/2021. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for triangulation and validation of the findings.

FINDINGS

Participants reported that COVID-19-induced educational disruptions had detrimental effects on their learning experiences. Even though they deemed emergency remote teaching to be less effective than classroom-based teaching, participants recognized the role technology had played in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on their graduation year. They reported using a wide range of online technologies to complement remote curriculum delivery. Ranking second after Google Meet, with a marked difference from the rest of the list, YouTube seemed to be sports science students' best "learning companion" in times of COVID-19. YouTube helped them better understand instructional content delivered remotely and compensate for the missed opportunities for knowledge and motor skill acquisition.

CONCLUSIONS

It is very likely that curriculum-based YouTube videos can smoothen emergency implementation of flipped classrooms during future crises that may force teachers and students into home confinement once again, but further empirical research is needed in this area.

The contribution of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy videos on YouTube to the learning curve in the COVID-19 pandemic

There is no standardization in videos uploaded to Youtube. Were the videos capable of contributing to adequate technical quality and surgical training? We are aiming to answer these questions in this paper. It is a cross-sectional study. In January 2022, we searched the Youtube platform using the keyword "distal pancreatectomy." The substantiality, transparency, reliability, quality, popularity and educational values of the video content were evaluated after exclusion criteria. These parameters were evaluated using we the modified Journal of American Medical Association benchmark criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS), Video Power Index, modified laparoscopic pancreatectomy scoring system. The videos uploaded after the pandemic had a statistically significant higher GQS score (P < .001). Video Power Index, like GQS, had a statistically significant difference before and after the pandemic. (P = .046). There was no significant difference in the evaluation of the reliability and substantiality. Until the development of Youtube videos is completed, peer-reviewed, more reliable and content-rich online education platforms should be preferred in the first place. Care should be taken to watch selected videos on Youtube videos.

Assessment of reliability and information quality of YouTube videos about root canal treatment after 2016

Background

This study aimed to assess and update the content, reliability, and information quality of content related to root canal treatment (RCTx) on YouTube and evaluate the correlation between each evaluation index.

Methods

YouTube was searched using two terms related to RCTx (“root canal and endodontic treatment”). A total of 240 videos (120 for each search term) were screened. Exclusion criteria were as follows: no sound or visuals, non-English, irrelevant to the search term, longer than 15 min, duplicate, or old (uploaded before 2016). After exclusion, 50 videos of “root canal treatment” and 45 videos of “endodontic treatment” were analyzed. Video length, total number of views, likes, dislikes, comments, and days since upload were recorded using descriptive video data. Viewers’ interaction, reliability and information quality of the video, and quality of video content were measured using nondescriptive video data. The interaction index and video power index were used for viewer interactions, and the modified DISCERN index, JAMA criteria, and Global Quality Score were used to assess the reliability and information quality of the video. The quality of the video content was measured using the completeness score.

Results

The videos of the “root canal treatment” group had a significantly higher completeness score for the etiology and symptoms (p < 0.05), and videos of the “endodontic treatment” group showed a higher interaction index, completeness score for the procedure (p < 0.05). Videos for dentists had significantly higher completeness scores for the procedure, while videos for laypersons had higher completeness scores for etiology, anatomy, symptoms, and prognosis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the total completeness score and the interaction index of the videos for laypersons were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The videos uploaded by the university had a significantly higher modified DISCERN index (p = 0.044), and the JAMA score was significantly higher in the commercial group (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Although the accuracy of videos related to RCTx was higher in videos by universities and professionals, the total completeness of YouTube videos was low regardless of the video source. Therefore, professionals should be responsible for providing more accurate and reliable videos.

Assessment of videos related to lung nodules in China

Background

With the popularization of mobile phones and the development of the Internet, many patients use social media platforms to seek health information. Currently, TikTok, iQiyi, Bilibili, and Weibo are the most popular video platforms in China. Therefore, based on the above facts, this study estimated the quality of lung nodule videos taken in China using these platforms.

Methods

The term “lung nodule” was searched on these platforms. Then, the first 30 videos were selected. Subsequently, some videos were excluded after they had been reviewed and analyzed, after which information on the features and sources of these videos was finally assessed using DISCERN, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, and the Hexagonal Radar Schema. Analysis was performed according to different groups.

Results

101 videos were included in this study. According to the different sources, although most videos were from physicians (71.3%), comprising those with shorter durations; faster updates; and more likes, comments, and shares; no significant difference in the scores were obtained. Moreover, regarding the different platforms, while Weibo had the highest update, TikTok had more likes, comments, and shares. Investigations also revealed that while score differences were recorded, most videos were rated “very poor” and “poor.” Besides, hexagonal radar charts showed a severe deficiency of video information.

Conclusions

Although the quality of most videos on the understudied social media platforms was poor, these platforms have huge potential. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using the platforms as information sources about lung nodules, and a better review and push system is needed.

The Effects of Service Quality of Medical Information O2O Platform on Continuous Use Intention: Case of South Korea

Digital transformation of the healthcare industry is being accelerated due to the evolution of digital intelligence information technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. As online-to-offline (O2O)-based consumption life, based on platforms, becomes routinized along with the COVID-19 pandemic, the O2O platforms on medical activities are gaining attention. This study targeted the medical information O2O platform users and aimed to verify the effects of service quality factors on the platform users’ continuous use intention with the mediation of perceived usefulness and perceived convenience. Based on previous studies, four such factors: context-based affordability, immediacy of connection, reliability, and safety were defined as the medical information O2O platform service quality components. This study targeted 369 users of medical information O2O platforms with market dominance in Korea and conducted a questionnaire survey. According to analysis results, context-based affordability and immediacy of connection had a positive (+) effect on perceived usefulness and convenience, and they were confirmed to affect continuous-use intention with the mediation of the perceived usefulness and convenience. Meanwhile, reliability did not affect the perceived usefulness and convenience, whereas safety had a positive (+) effect on perceived usefulness but did not have the same effect (+) on perceived convenience. Consequently, it was ascertained that context-based affordability and immediacy of connection are more important factors to the medical information O2O platform consumers than reliability and safety.

YouTube-Friend or Foe? A Closer Look at Videos on Inguinal Hernia Surgery as a Source for Patient Education

INTRODUCTION

The Internet is an extensively used source of medical education by the public. In particular, YouTube is a valuable source of information which can be used to improve patient education. However, there is no quality assurance regime for YouTube videos pertaining to medical education. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the quality and accuracy of videos regarding inguinal hernia repair.

METHODS

Two hundred videos were searched for and viewed on YouTube from the phrases: 'inguinal hernia repair,' 'patient information for inguinal hernia repair,' and 'hernia operation.' After the application of predefined exclusion criteria, 23 videos were selected and the following data were collected: number of views, duration since video was posted, and the number of likes, dislikes, and comments. The educational quality was rated using three scoring systems: Health on the Net code, Journal of the American Medical Association, and DISCERN scoring systems. All three scoring systems have been previously used to evaluate online videos; however, they have not been formally validated.

RESULTS

The videos were of low quality when using the Health on the Net code, Journal of the American Medical Association, and DISCERN scoring systems. There was no association between video quality as measured by any of the scoring systems and the number of views. The number of days online was independently predictive of the number of views (P = 0.044) and explained 18% of the variance in views. Likewise, there was no significant association between video quality and video length.

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube videos on inguinal hernia repair are of low quality and accuracy. However, the potential of using YouTube to educate patients cannot be ignored.

Watch One, Do One? A Systematic Review and Educational Analysis of YouTube Microsurgery Videos, and a Proposal for a Quality Assurance Checklist

Background  Educational resources on the internet are extensively used to obtain medical information. YouTube is the most accessed video platform containing information to enhance the learning experience of medical professionals. This study systematically analyzed the educational value of microsurgery-related videos on this platform.

Methods  A systematic review was conducted on YouTube from April 18 to May 18, 2020, using the following terms: “microsurgery,” “microsurgical,” “microsurgical anastomosis,” “free flap,” and “free tissue transfer.” The search was limited to the first 100 videos, and two independent reviewers screened for eligible entries and analyzed their educational value using validated scales, including a modified version of the DISCERN score (M-DISCERN), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMAS) benchmark criteria, and the Global Quality Score (GQS). Evaluation of video popularity was also assessed with the video power index (VPI).

Results  Of 356 retrieved videos, 75 (21%) were considered eligible. The educational quality of videos was highly variable, and the mean global scores for the M-DISCERN, JAMAS, and GQS for our sample were consistent with medium to low quality.

Conclusions  A limited number of videos on YouTube for microsurgical education have high-educational quality. The majority scored low on the utilized criteria. Peer-reviewed resources seem to be a more reliable resource. Although the potential of YouTube should not be disregarded, videos should be carefully appraised before being used as an educational resource.

Does YouTube Provide Qualified Patient Education Videos About Atrial Fibrillation?

Objective

Patients utilize the internet as a pathway to acquire knowledge of specific diseases. However, there are limited oversight and review mechanisms to ensure the authenticity of online information. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of video-based resources used to obtain information about atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

Multiple AF-specific keywords were used to perform a systematic search of YouTube. Two independent reviewers reviewed the top 50 results of each keyword search. To record data, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) score, modified DISCERN score, AF-specific score (AFSS), and essential score (Escore) were used. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for intergroup comparisons.

Results

A total of 74 videos that met the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. In terms of video quality, 68% were poor, 19% were moderate, and 13% were exceptional. Videos submitted by publishers with a medical background were much less popular (p < 0.05) than those submitted by publishers without a medical background. The video quality did not differ among those included in this study.

Conclusions

Some videos on YouTube that are of real value are not as popular as those with low-quality content submitted by news agencies/media publishers. Furthermore, videos submitted by those with a medical background do not receive as much attention as others. It is important to acknowledge that video platforms should establish content and quality auditing mechanisms for videos. Furthermore, publishers should ensure that viewers receive accurate and complete knowledge and use more concise and accessible images or animations that are tailored to the audience.

How Reliable and Popular are Trabeculectomy Videos on Youtube?

PURPOSE

Evaluating the quality, dependability, and popularity of YouTube videos about trabeculectomy.

METHODS

A simulated user search for trabeculectomy videos on YouTube was conducted using the keywords "trabeculectomy, trabeculectomy surgery for glaucoma, and trabeculectomy surgery." Hundred out of the one hundred and fifty videos met the criteria and were analyzed. To assess quality and reliability, each video was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the DISCERN (scale, 1-5), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA; scale, 0-4), and Global Quality (GQ; scale, 1-5) criteria. The popularity of the videos was evaluated by Video Power Index (VPI). Videos were further classified into three groups based on the source of their upload.

RESULTS

Of the 100 analyzed videos, 50 were uploaded to the system by doctors, 40 by health institutions and 10 by patients. Fifty-seven percent are videos with surgical content. The mean DISCERN score was 44.84 ± 8.14 the mean JAMA score was 2.08 ± 0.67, and the mean Global Quality score was 2.02 ± 0.72. Although some videos provided adequate information, the majority of the videos were rated as fair. While the DISCERN, JAMA, GQS scores were statistically higher in videos uploaded by doctors than in videos uploaded by patients (P < 0.01), VPI was higher in videos uploaded by patients (P = 0.003). Nonsurgical videos had the highest rate of likes and comments (P < 0.05). No substantial difference in scoring was observed between the 2 independent reviewers (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Videos with high popularity had low information quality and reliability. This situation presupposes video sharing in a more understandable language for patients.

The videos on YouTube® related to hallux valgus surgery have insufficient information

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have determined the videos on YouTube® have misleading information in medicine, however the assessment of the information for hallux valgus surgery is lacking.

METHODS

YouTube® was analyzed using two keywords as 'hallux valgus surgery' and 'bunion surgery'. Once redundancies were eliminated, each video was evaluated for the characteristic as following: duration, number of views, likes and dislikes, days since upload, view and like ratios and video power index (VPI). The quality of the information was evaluated using DISCERN, JAMA and hallux valgus score (HVS).

RESULTS

A total of 49 videos included. Fair or poor results for DISCERN and HVS (90% and 69% of videos, respectively) were found. No difference was found between video source and quality scores. Number of likes and VPI negatively correlated with all scores (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube® had poor quality of information for hallux valgus surgery.

Health Literacy and Web-Based Audiovisual Multimedia in Pituitary and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery

Introduction The internet presents a rich milieu of multimedia options relating to pituitary and endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS). Misinformation can create discordance between patient and provider expectations. The purpose of this study is to analyze the understandability and actionability of available ESBS and pituitary surgery audiovisual information on YouTube and Google.

Methods The top 50 videos generated by searching “pituitary surgery/transsphenoidal surgery” and “endoscopic skull base surgery” in both YouTube and Google were sorted by relevance. Two independent reviewers evaluated each for understandability and actionability based on the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audiovisual material (PEMAT-A/V). Source, authorship, audience, and education/advertisement variables were collected. Chi-square test followed by univariate and multivariate regression analyses assessed the association between these variables and quality.

Results A total of 85 videos (52 YouTube and 33 Google) met inclusion criteria for analysis. There was no significant difference in the presence of the aforementioned variables between YouTube and Google (p < 0.05). Also, 72% of videos targeted patients and 28% targeted surgeons. Academic institutions uploaded 58% of videos. Surgeon-targeted videos were more educational (p = 0.01) and patient-targeted videos involved more advertisement (p = 0.01). Understandability and actionability scores were below the 70% threshold for both YouTube (65 ± 15, 38 ± 33, p = 0.65) and Google (66 ± 12, 38 ± 26, p = 0.94). Patient-targeted videos (p = 0.002) were more understandable, while surgeon- (p < 0.001) and education-focused videos (p < 0.001) were more actionable.

Conclusion Understandability and actionability of YouTube and Google audiovisual patient information on ESBS and pituitary surgery is poor. Consideration should be given to the formation of a standardized patient information resource.

An Analysis of the Quality, Reliability, and Popularity of YouTube Videos on Glaucoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the quality, reliability, and popularity of videos relating to glaucoma on YouTube.

DESIGN

Retrospective, cross-sectional study of YouTube videos about glaucoma.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred YouTube videos were analyzed for this study.

METHODS

An online YouTube search for glaucoma videos was conducted simulating a user search using the keywords glaucoma, high eye pressure, and high intraocular pressure. The first 100 videos were analyzed, and each video was evaluated by 2 independent reviewers using the modified DISCERN (scale, 1-5), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA; scale, 0-4), and Global Quality (GQ; scale, 1-5) criteria to assess quality and reliability. Videos were categorized further into 3 groups depending on the source of their upload. Group 1 comprised videos uploaded by academic or government institutions, group 2 comprised videos uploaded by private medical practices, and group 3 comprised videos uploaded by independent users.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Modified DISCERN, JAMA, and GQ scores for quality and reliability of information and video power index (VPI) for video popularity.

RESULTS

No substantial difference in scoring was observed between the 2 independent reviewers. The overall mean ± standard error (SE) scores were modified DISCERN score, 3.81 ± 0.06; JAMA score, 2.93 ± 0.07; and GQ score, 3.98 ± 0.06. The overall mean ± SE VPI score was 9.9 ± 2.9. Significant positive correlations were found between video popularity and quality of information for all 3 criteria (P < 0.05). The videos in groups 1 and 2 showed higher modified DISCERN scores than those in group 3, but did not score higher with either the JAMA or GQ criteria. Videos in group 3 were the most popular when compared with videos in groups 1 or 2 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, many of the videos had adequate quality and reliability scores. No difference was found among groups 1 through 3 for 2 of the 3 criteria used, suggesting a similar quality of information provided among academic, private, and independent sources.

YouTube as a source of information for water treatments

The purpose of the study was to investigate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos as a source of information in water treatments. We searched videos on YouTube ( www.youtube.com ) using the following keywords: "health resort medicine," "spa treatment," "spa therapy," "hydrotherapy," "thermal medicine," "balneology," and "balneotherapy" on June 17th, 2021. The global quality scale (GQS) was used to evaluate the quality of the videos. The assessment of reliability was evaluated using the modified DISCERN tool. Some other video parameters and sources of the videos were also recorded. One hundred twenty-one (121) videos were analyzed. The most common video source was advertisement (46.3%). GQS and modified DISCERN median scores were generally low. They were superior for "hydrotherapy" and "balneotherapy" and were also higher in videos uploaded by health-related persons or organizations (physicians, health-related professionals, and health-related websites). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between investigated parameters (like view ratio, number of likes, video power index, video length) and GQS. Only video length was correlated with modified DISCERN for investigated parameters. The median video power index scores were statistically higher for "spa therapy" and "spa treatment." The YouTube content linked with water treatments has poor quality and reliability most of time. The hydrotherapy and balneotherapy keywords have the best quality and reliability.We think that designers of water treatment videos should involve health professionals more often so that the content of their video will better explain the details of medical conditions or interventions.The scientific experts should ensure a consensus in terminology to straighten the awareness of water treatments for patients and physicians.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in social media: Content analysis of YouTube videos

The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics, content, and quality of information available on YouTube regarding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and explore the search results and number of views and quality of the videos. A search was performed on YouTube on 10 June 2020, using the search term ''Lou Gehrig's disease" in the Korean language, and the first 100 videos were targeted for analysis. General characteristics (e.g., number of views, video length, etc.) were collected, and upload source, target audience, subject of the video, and quality of the videos using a global quality score (GQS) were assessed. About two-thirds of the videos were for the general public (62.0%), while the other third were made for patients and their families with ALS (38.0%). The mean GQS was 3.70 ± 1.42, and 60 videos were classified as high-quality videos. ALS-related videos on YouTube play a role in raising awareness among the general public of this devastating disease, however, practical information regarding disease management for patients and family is relatively insufficient. The quality and characteristics of the videos varied greatly and sometimes the lowest quality videos were shown in the top pages of search results.

Assessing the Quality of Patient Information for Vestibular Schwannoma on the Open Source Video Sharing Platform YouTube

BACKGROUND

Patients frequently use the internet to gain information and make decisions about their health conditions. This work aims to assess the quality of information about Vestibular Schwannoma on a popular video sharing platform, YouTube (Alphabet Inc.).

OBJECTIVES

To assess quality of the most popular vestibular schwannoma videos using recognized scoring systems and whether video quality metrics correlated with video popularity based on metadata analysis.

SETTING

Public domain.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional Study.

METHODS

The YouTube website was systematically searched on separate days with a formal search strategy to identify videos relevant to vestibular schwannoma. Each video was viewed and scored by three independent assessors, using scores for quality and disease specific accuracy. Popularity metrics were analyzed and compared to video quality. Patient surveys were conducted to further assess their perspectives of the included videos.

RESULTS

A total of 23 YouTube videos were included. In terms of Essential and Ideal Video Completeness Criteria, the mean scores ranged from 4.8 to 5.0 (out of 12), indicating moderate video quality. The average DISCERN score ranged from 30.0 to 36.7, indicating lower reliability. The mean JAMA scores ranged from 1.96 to 2.48, indicating average quality. Based on metrics including DISCERN and JAMA instruments, the information in the YouTube videos were of low to average quality and reliability. Rater scoring was reliable. Viewer engagement correlated poorly with video quality except for JAMA metrics.

CONCLUSION

Video quality on YouTube with respect to Vestibular Schwannoma is of low to average quality. Viewer engagement and popularity correlated poorly with video quality. Clinicians should direct their patients to high quality videos and should consider uploading their own high-quality videos.

Evaluation of the Accuracy and Quality of Information in Videos About Lateral Epicondylitis Shared on Internet Video Sharing Services

Purpose

In this study, it was aimed to determine the quality and accuracy of the videos on YouTube about lateral epicondylitis.

Methods

The first 100 videos were included in the study by typing the keyword "lateral epicondylitis" in the YouTube search tab without using any filters. The video power index (VPI) was used to evaluate the popularity of the videos, and the global quality score (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and DISCERN scoring systems were used to evaluate the quality. The obtained data were statistically analyzed according to these scoring systems.

Results

The mean DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS of the analyzed videos were 46.66, 3.13, and 3.85, respectively. According to these results, it was determined that the videos were of medium quality. A statistically insignificant and weak correlation was found between the VPI and DISCERN, GQS, and JAMA scores (p>0.05, intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC: −0.05, 0.09, and −0.05, respectively). While there was no significant relationship between the video source and the DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores (p>0.05), it was determined that the DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores in the exercise videos were significantly higher than in the other content types in terms of the video content (p=0.041).

Conclusions

According to the results obtained, it was determined that YouTube videos about lateral epicondylitis were not of sufficient quality. In order to ensure standardization for quality videos, internationally acceptable guidelines should be determined and studies should be carried out to provide an adequate infrastructure for the preparation of quality medical videos that can meet the increasing needs of patients by health institutions.

Assessment of the Quality and Reliability of Intragastric Balloon Videos on YouTube

PURPOSE

There is no mechanism to control the accuracy and quality of videos on YouTube. However, it is essential to evaluate the quality of videos on YouTube to prevent patients from accessing misleading information. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and reliability of the videos available on YouTube concerning intragastric balloon.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

YouTube was searched using the keywords "intragastric balloon" and "gastric balloon." A total of 158 videos were independently analyzed by two bariatric surgeons-endoscopists and were classified as reliable or non-reliable. Video demographics (view, view per day, like, dislike, comment) were analyzed according to the quality and source of the video. The video power index (VPI) was calculated for each video. The modified DISCERN and global quality scores (GQS) were used to rate the reliability and overall quality of the videos.

RESULTS

Of the included videos, 63.9% were described reliable and 36.1% as non-reliable. The median number of dislikes, comments, views, views per day, and video duration on YouTube did not significantly differ between the two reliability groups. The mean length of the videos, GQS and DISCERN scores, and the median number of likes were significantly higher in the reliable group. The highest median VPI value was determined for the videos uploaded by TV programs.

CONCLUSION

The number of reliable videos is higher than non-reliable about intragastric balloon on YouTube. However, the reliability and quality of the videos are generally low. The videos uploaded by TV programs are significantly more popular.

New learning area in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: YouTube® or WebSurg®?

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic gastrectomy cannot be performed routinely in many centres, because there is still no standardisation in the centres where it is performed, and therefore, new learning areas are needed for residents working in these centres for surgical training. These areas are various courses, video training sets and video platforms watched over the internet. The most frequently used platforms are YouTube® and WebSurg®. Our aim is to compare these two online video platforms in terms of laparoscopic gastrectomy and to evaluate the contribution of video platforms to surgical training and whether they have sufficient technical quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We made a search on YouTube® and WebSurg® using the keyword 'laparoscopic gastrectomy' on 13 November 2020. A total of 143 videos were analysed, 111 of them on YouTube® and 32 on WebSurg®. All these videos were examined by two surgical oncologists experienced in laparoscopic gastrectomy and using laparoscopy in their daily practice.

RESULTS

The average video duration was 53.54 min in the YouTube® group and 18.20 min in the WebSurg® group, and this difference was found to be statistically significant between the two groups. According to the LGSS based on surgical procedures, the average score of WebSurg® videos was 10.37 and of YouTube® videos was 5.55, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Today, video platforms have started to play a major role in surgical training. Of these platforms examined, WebSurg® is superior to YouTube® in terms of education and quality, but these platforms still have some deficiencies and need regulation.

Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos on Surgical Treatment of Uterine Leiomyomas

Introduction

To determine the quality of English language YouTube videos on uterine leiomyomas (UL) and their surgical treatment.

Methods

The present study was performed from October 1 to October 8, 2021. A gynecologist with 10 years of experience searched for keywords on YouTube, including ‘UL surgery’, ‘laparoscopic myomectomy,’ ‘myomectomy,’ ‘surgical treatments for UL,’ and ‘operations for UL.’ Videos were categorized into three groups according to content as informative videos, personal experience videos, and news update videos. All videos characteristics, including the number of views, the length and duration of the video, number of ‘likes,’ ‘dislikes,’ and ‘comments,’ were recorded. Medical information and content index (MICI) score, DISCERN score, and Global Quality Score (GQS) were calculated for each video.

Results

In total, 54 videos were categorized as informative videos, 46 videos were classified as patient experience videos, and 37 videos were accepted as news agency videos. The mean comment numbers were 105.6 for patient experience videos, and the difference was statistically different in favor of patient experience videos (p= 0.001). The GQS and DISCERN scores were significantly higher for the informative group in comparison with the other two groups (p=0.001 and p=0.001 for both groups). Clinical symptoms and treatment outcomes were the most frequently mentioned content in informative videos (81.8% and 97.1%). The mean MICI score was 2.7.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that YouTube videos about UL and its surgical treatments have low quality and utility. However, informative videos that are mostly uploaded by professional health providers have significantly better DISCERN and GQS scores.

Discussion of Weight Loss Surgery in Instagram Posts: Successive Sampling Study

BACKGROUND

The majority of American adults search for health and illness information on the internet. However, the quality and accuracy of this information are notoriously variable. With the advent of social media, US individuals have increasingly shared their own health and illness experiences, including those related to bariatric surgery, on social media platforms. Previous research has found that peer-to-peer requesting and giving of advice related to bariatric surgery on social media is common, that such advice is often presented in stark terms, and that the advice may not reflect patient standards of care. These previous investigations have helped to map bariatric surgery content on Facebook and YouTube.

OBJECTIVE

This objective of this study was to document and compare weight loss surgery (WLS)-related content on Instagram in the months leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic and 1 year later.

METHODS

We analyzed a total of 300 Instagram posts (50 posts per week for 3 consecutive weeks in late February and early March in both 2020 and 2021) uploaded using the hashtag #wls. Descriptive statistics were reported, and independent 1-tailed chi-square tests were used to determine if a post's publication year statistically affected its inclusion of a particular type of content.

RESULTS

Overall, advice giving and personal responsibility for outcomes were emphasized by WLS posters on Instagram. However, social support was less emphasized. The safety, challenges, and risks associated with WLS were rarely discussed. The majority of posts did not contain references to facts from reputable medical sources. Posts published in 2021 were more likely to mention stress/hardships of living with WLS (45/150, 30%, vs 29/150, 19.3%; P=.03); however, those published in 2020 more often identified the importance of ongoing support for WLS success (35/150, 23.3%, vs 16/150, 10.7%; P=.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Given that bariatric patients have low rates of postoperative follow-up, yet post-operative care and yet support are associated with improved health and weight loss outcomes, and given that health content on the web is of mixed accuracy, bariatric professionals may wish to consider including an online support forum moderated by a professional as a routine part of postoperative care. Doing so may not only improve follow-up rates but may offer providers the opportunity to counter inaccuracies encountered on social media.

Harnessing Machine Learning to Personalize Web-Based Health Care Content

Web-based health care content has emerged as a primary source for patients to access health information without direct guidance from health care providers. The benefit of this approach is dependent on the ability of patients to access engaging high-quality information, but significant variability in the quality of web-based information often forces patients to navigate large quantities of inaccurate, incomplete, irrelevant, or inaccessible content. Personalization positions the patient at the center of health care models by considering their needs, preferences, goals, and values. However, the traditional methods used thus far in health care to determine the factors of high-quality content for a particular user are insufficient. Machine learning (ML) uses algorithms to process and uncover patterns within large volumes of data to develop predictive models that automatically improve over time. The health care sector has lagged behind other industries in implementing ML to analyze user and content features, which can automate personalized content recommendations on a mass scale. With the advent of big data in health care, which builds comprehensive patient profiles drawn from several disparate sources, ML can be used to integrate structured and unstructured data from users and content to deliver content that is predicted to be effective and engaging for patients. This enables patients to engage in their health and support education, self-management, and positive behavior change as well as to enhance clinical outcomes.

The Content Quality of YouTube Videos for Professional Medical Education: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To evaluate the content quality of YouTube videos intended for professional medical education based on quality rating tool (QRT) scores and determine if video characteristics, engagement metrics, or author type are associated with quality.

METHOD

The authors searched 7 databases for English-language studies about the quality of YouTube videos intended for professional medical education from each database's inception through April 2019. To be included, studies had to be published in 2005 (when YouTube was created) or later. Studies were classified according to the type of QRT used: externally validated, internally validated, or limited global. Study information and video characteristics and engagement metrics were extracted. Videos were classified by video author type.

RESULTS

Thirty-one studies were included in this review. Three studies used externally validated QRTs, 20 used internally validated QRTs, and 13 used limited global QRTs. Studies using externally validated QRTs had average scores/total possible scores of 1.3/4, 26/80, and 1.7/5. Among the 18 studies using internally validated QRTs, from which an average percentage of total possible QRT score could be computed or extracted, the average score was 44% (range: 9%-71%). Videos with academic-physician authors had higher internally validated QRT mean scores (46%) than those with nonacademic-physician or other authors (26%; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors found a wide variation in QRT scores of videos, with many low QRT scores. While videos authored by academic-physicians were of higher quality on average, their quality still varied significantly. Video characteristics and engagement metrics were found to be unreliable surrogate measures of video quality. A lack of unifying grading criteria for video content quality, poor search algorithm optimization, and insufficient peer review or controls on submitted videos likely contributed to the overall poor quality of YouTube videos that could be used for professional medical education.

Factors Affecting Engagement in Web-Based Health Care Patient Information: Narrative Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Web-based content is rapidly becoming the primary source of health care information. There is a pressing need for web-based health care content to not only be accurate but also be engaging. Improved engagement of people with web-based health care content has the potential to inform as well as influence behavioral change to enable people to make better health care choices. The factors associated with better engagement with web-based health care content have previously not been considered.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study are to identify the factors that affect engagement with web-based health care content and develop a framework to be considered when creating such content.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of the PubMed and MEDLINE database was performed from January 1, 1946, to January 5, 2020. The reference lists of all included studies were also searched. The Medical Subject Headings database was used to derive the following keywords: "patient information," "online," "internet," "web," and "content." All studies in English pertaining to the factors affecting engagement in web-based health care patient information were included. No restrictions were set on the study type. Analysis of the themes arising from the results was performed using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

The search yielded 814 articles, of which 56 (6.9%) met our inclusion criteria. The studies ranged from observational and noncontrolled studies to quasi-experimental studies. Overall, there was significant heterogeneity in the types of interventions and outcome assessments, which made quantitative assessment difficult. Consensus among all authors of this study resulted in six categories that formed the basis of a framework to assess the factors affecting engagement in web-based health care content: easy to understand, support, adaptability, accessibility, visuals and content, and credibility and completeness.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a paucity of high-quality data relating to the factors that improve the quality of engagement with web-based health care content. Our framework summarizes the reported studies, which may be useful to health care content creators. An evaluation of the utility of web-based content to engage users is of significant importance and may be accessible through tools such as the Net Promoter score. Web 3.0 technology and development of the field of psychographics for health care offer further potential for development. Future work may also involve improvement of the framework through a co-design process.

YouTube Is a Poor-Quality Source for Patient Information on Rehabilitation and Return to Sports After Hip Arthroscopy

Purpose

To investigate the information quality on YouTube regarding rehabilitation and return to sport (RTS) after hip arthroscopy.

Methods

By use of private browsing and predefined search terms, 217 unique videos regarding RTS and rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy were included and systematically reviewed. A total of 164 videos were included in the final analysis. Videos were scored using 4 scoring systems: (1) Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria, (2) the Global Quality Score, (3) a score for RTS after hip arthroscopy, and (4) a score for rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy.

Results

A large majority of the included videos provided substandard information quality, dependability, and precision. RTS videos that were uploaded by physicians had a significantly higher Journal of the American Medical Association score, Global Quality Score, and RTS score compared with commercial and personal testimony videos (P = .0003, P = .0021, and P = .0005, respectively). Physician videos pertaining to RTS were also significantly longer than videos in other categories (P = .0397).

Conclusions

The quality and reliability of video content on YouTube pertaining to rehabilitation and RTS after hip arthroscopy are generally poor. The educational content of YouTube videos produced by physicians is of significantly higher quality as compared with non-physicians, patient testimonials, and commercials.

Clinical Relevance

The quality of the information patients receive on rehabilitation and RTS after hip arthroscopy is important for successful outcomes.

Reliability and Quality of YouTube Videos on Ultrasound-Guided Brachial Plexus Block: A Programmatical Review

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has gained popularity over the last decade. This study aimed to assess whether YouTube videos sufficiently serve as an adjunctive tool for learning how to perform an ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block (BPB).

METHODS

All YouTube videos were classified, based on their sources, as either academic, manufacturer, educational, or individual videos. The metrics, accuracy, utility, reliability (using the Journal of American Medical Association Score benchmark criteria (JAMAS)), and educational quality (using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and Brachial Plexus Block Specific Quality Score (BSQS)) were validated.

RESULTS

Here, 175 videos were included. Academic (1.19 ± 0.62, mean ± standard deviation), manufacturer (1.17 ± 0.71), and educational videos (1.15 ± 0.76) had better JAMAS accuracy and reliability than individual videos (0.26 ± 0.67) (p < 0.001). Manufacturer (11.22 ± 1.63) and educational videos (10.33 ± 3.34) had a higher BSQS than individual videos (7.32 ± 4.20) (p < 0.001). All sources weakly addressed the equipment preparation and post-procedure questions after BSQS analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The reliability and quality of ultrasound-guided BPB videos differ depending on their source. As YouTube is a useful educational platform for learners and teachers, global societies of regional anesthesiologists should set a standard for videos.

Is YouTube a high-quality source of information on cancer rehabilitation?

BACKGROUND

Searching for information on the Internet, especially YouTube^TM, is gaining popularity for cancer survivors. Based on the topic of online health information, the importance of studies using YouTube data for various cancer types and treatment methods has increased. This study aims to investigate the quality, reliability, and accuracy of YouTube videos on cancer rehabilitation (CR).

METHODS

YouTube search was performed on February 26th, 2021, with two keyword sets: "cancer rehabilitation" and "oncology rehabilitation." The modified DISCERN, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) scoring system, and the Global Quality Score (GQS) were used to evaluate the quality and reliability of the videos. The features of each video such as the number of likes, dislikes, and views, upload date, duration, like ratio, and the uploader profile were also collected.

RESULTS

Fifty-three of the first 200 videos shown in the search results met the criteria. Most of the videos were low quality. The most common uploader profile was academic institute/university hospital. The three most common subjects in the videos were CR definition, physical therapy and occupational therapy, and patient experiences. The mean modified DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores were 2.14, 2.03, and 2.78, respectively. Higher quality videos had longer duration, greater number of views, and better reliability scores.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that most of the rated videos were of low-quality and didn't provide sufficient information on the topic discussed. Higher-quality and more accurate YouTube videos are needed to increase awareness of CR.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

For cancer survivors, CR-related YouTube video content often provides information of low reliability. In this context, it is necessary to focus on the production of video content that includes clinical guides, references, and are based on clinical-based practices.