YouTube as a source of information about COVID-19 for children: Content quality, reliability, and audience participation analysis

Analysis of YouTube Videos on Herbal Approaches Used in Coping with Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The use of herbal approaches is very common among cancer patients. Patients obtain information about herbal products mostly from YouTube. However, toxicity and complications may develop as a result of unconscious use of herbal products. This study was conducted to evaluate the scope, validity, reliability and quality of English language videos on YouTube about herbal approaches to cope with cancer.

METHODS

The present descriptive study analyzed a total of 62 YouTube videos. All videos published on YouTube until 10 January 2024 were watched as a result of a search with English words 'herbal approaches for cancer treatment' and 'herbal approaches for medicine' . The 62 videos that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for reliability, quality, and content by 2 independent reviewers by using the Global Quality Score, DISCERN, JAMA scales and Herbal Approaches Checklist. The results indicated that the videos included in the study exhibited moderate quality.

RESULTS

Of the analyzed videos, 53.2% were found to be informative and 46.8% were found to be misleading. It was established that 59.7% (n=37) of the videos recommended the use of herbs that are known to be incompatible with chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that the majority of the videos on YouTube about herbal approaches had low accuracy, low quality and insufficient information level. In addition, the use of many herbal products incompatible with cancer type and treatment was recommended. However, the level of knowledge of health professionals regarding herbal approaches should also be taken into consideration and it should be recommended that health professionals with expertise in this field inform patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses should educate patients about herbal approaches and guide them in evaluating the reliability of online sources. They should stay updated through continuous education on herbal products and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to prevent potential herb-drug interactions.

Evaluation of the Content, Reliability, and Quality of YouTube Videos on Surgical Hand Scrubbing

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content, reliability, and quality of YouTube videos on surgical hand scrubbing. Two hundred videos in English were identified and screened according to the inclusion criteria. The evaluation of the sample of 72 videos was guided by content, reliability, and quality tools. Videos with at least one source in the description had significantly greater reliability scores than those without (t = 3.871, P < .001). There were no significant differences between the content scores and the general traits of the videos (eg, advertisements, subtitles). Analysis of the relationship between the content and quality scores with the video traits showed a weak positive correlation between quality scores and video length (r = 0.233, P = .049). Viewers should consider content, reliability, and quality rather than popularity when seeking educational video content on hand scrubbing.

Assessment of the quality and reliability of YouTube videos related to teleradiology in musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases: a cross-sectional study

Teleradiology, the remote evaluation of medical images using digital communication technologies, has altered healthcare delivery, particularly in musculoskeletal and rheumatic disorders. This article aims to assess YouTube videos regarding teleradiology in these disorders. The video inspection was conducted on January 15, 2025, using the search terms "teleradiology musculoskeletal system," "teleradiology rheumatic diseases," "teleradiology rheumatology," and "teleradiology arthritis".A total of 200 videos were evaluated. Total views, likes and comments, video duration, time since upload, and daily engagement metrics were recorded. The videos were categorized based on their origin. The evaluation tools utilized to analyze each video were the Global Quality Scale (GQS), Modified DISCERN Questionnaire, JAMA Benchmark Criteria, and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audio/Visual Materials (PEMAT-A/V). Of the 44 videos, 20.4% (n = 9) were of low quality, 27.3% (n = 12) were of intermediate quality, and 52.3% (n = 23) were of high quality. Physicians (81.8%) and nonprofit organizations (66.7%) were the predominant producers of high-quality videos. In contrast, health-related websites (29.4%) and nonacademic healthcare institutions (28.6%) constituted the primary sources of poor content. The quality groups showed significant differences in daily views and likes (p < 0.05), with high-quality videos receiving the highest engagement. Significant correlations were detected between video duration and content assessment tools (p < 0.01). The current results emphasize the need to select high-quality videos from reliable sources such as physicians and nonprofit organizations. Considering YouTube's extensive use as a source of medical information, it is essential to advocate for expert-driven, high-quality content to augment its educational efficacy.

YouTube as a source of information about air pollution on children's health: importance for public health

Air pollution is a significant public health problem affecting children's mortality, morbidity, and causing respiratory diseases and malignancy. Parents are increasingly using YouTube to obtain health information about their children. This study aims to analyze YouTube videos on the effects of air pollution on children's health. A total of 200 English-language videos about air pollution and child health were assessed. We used the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, Global Quality (GQ), and m-DISCERN scores to evaluate video quality, reliability, and content. Among the videos, 50 (79.4%) were categorized as "Informative" and 13 (20.6%) as "Misleading." Academic institution-produced videos had higher JAMA and m-DISCERN scores compared to other groups (p < 0.001 for both). The median duration of videos in the Informative group was 164.5 seconds, while it was 68 seconds in the Misleading group (p = 0.001). We found that videos longer than 4 minutes had fewer views. YouTube videos on air pollution and child health should provide more accurate information and better sources, and additional reference materials should be included for parents. Universities, academic institutes, and international organizations should play a more active role by creating educational videos on the impact of air pollution on child health.

Safe sleep practices for infants: Comprehensive analysis of YouTube videos

AIM

This study aimed to analyze the accuracy, quality, and reliability of the content of YouTube videos on safe sleep for infants in relation to the safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

METHODS

The research was conducted by searching the video-sharing platform YouTube for the keywords "safe sleep." The videos were subjected to a review and evaluation process conducted by two independent reviewers. The modified DISCERN and Global Quality Scale (GQS) were employed to assess the quality and reliability of the videos. The content of the videos was evaluated using an eight-item checklist prepared by the researchers in accordance with the recommendations of the AAP. The Kruskal-Wallis-H, Mann-Whitney U, and Pearson correlation analyses were employed for the purpose of data analysis. All statistical data were deemed significant at the 0.05 level.

RESULTS

The 100 most relevant videos were viewed, and 85 videos that met the inclusion criteria were subjected to analysis. The mean values for the quality and reliability of the videos are 2.98 for the modified DISCERN score and 3.26 for the GQS. The mean value for the total checklist score was 4.78 out of 8. As indicated by the checklist developed in this study for the assessment of safe sleep video content, four of the eight items were present in over 80 % of the videos. The remaining four items were present in less than 42 % of the videos. A strong correlation was observed between the total score on the checklist and the modified DISCERN score (r = 0.915, p < 0.001) and the GQS (r = 0.918, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The evidence presented in this study indicates that improvements are needed in the quality and reliability of content on safe sleep practices for infants on YouTube.

Is YouTube a Useful Source of Information on Pressure Injuries? A Content, Reliability, and Quality Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the comprehensiveness, reliability, and quality of YouTube videos related to pressure injuries.

METHODS

The authors searched YouTube for relevant videos using the keywords "pressure injury", "pressure ulcer", "bedsore", "pressure injury etiology", "pressure injury classification", "pressure injury prevention", "pressure injury risk assessment", and "pressure injury management". Of the 1,023 videos screened, 269 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. For each video, the authors recorded the number of views, likes, and comments; the length; and the video upload source. The Comprehensiveness Assessment Tool for Pressure Injuries, the Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information score, and the Global Quality Score were used to evaluate the comprehensiveness, reliability, and quality of the videos.

RESULTS

The mean length of the 269 videos was 6.22 ± 4.62 minutes (range, 0.18-19.47 minutes). Only 14.5% of the videos (n = 39) were uploaded by universities or professional organizations. Most videos included information about PI prevention (69.5%), followed by PI management (27.9%). The mean comprehensiveness score was 2.33 ± 1.32 (range, 1-5). Nearly half of the videos (49.1%) were not reliable. However, the quality of 43.9% of the videos was somewhat useful. The Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information mean scores of universities/professional organizations (P < .001), nonprofit healthcare professionals (P = .015), and independent health information channel videos (P = .026) were higher than the mean score of medical advertising/profit companies channel videos.

CONCLUSIONS

This study draws attention to the need for more comprehensive, high-quality, and reliable videos about PIs. It is important that videos on YouTube provide comprehensive and reliable information for patients, caregivers, students, or providers seeking information on PI prevention, assessment, and management.

A sustainable, self-sufficient peer review algorithm for health-related YouTube videos: A proposal

YouTube has recently become one of the major sources of information in the field of health. Not only healthcare professionals but also laypersons can upload videos to YouTube and this fact creates a significant heterogeneity in the content, viewpoint, and accuracy of the available videos. Particularly, those videos presenting personal experiences and inferences on health problems may not rely on scientific evidence thus create inaccurate information. This commentary aims to propose an algorithm to improve the accuracy and reliability of health-related YouTube videos.

The quality and content analysis of YouTube videos about chemotherapy for children

PURPOSE

This study undertook a systematic examination of YouTube videos about chemotherapy for pediatric patients, with a primary focus on assessing the videos' quality, content, and reliability.

METHOD

The research was conducted by searching YouTube using the keywords "chemotherapy for children" and "chemotherapy for pediatric," employing filters for "worldwide" and "all categories." The top 100 videos, based on popularity, were selected for evaluation according to the power analysis calculation. Two independent experts in pediatric oncology reviewed these videos. Video characteristics were recorded: length, view count, likes, dislikes, view ratio, and video-like ratio. The Video Power Index was calculated to measure video popularity. The modified DISCERN and Global Quality Scale (GQS) assessed the videos for quality and reliability.

RESULTS

The 100 videos were analyzed. Official health institutions uploaded 54%, while independent users contributed 46%. Independent user uploads garnered significantly more views than official health institutions (p = .006). The number of likes, view ratio, and Video Power Index of independent users' videos were significantly higher than official health institutions' videos (respectively, p = .007, .007, and .008). On the other hand, the modified DISCERN score and GQS were significantly higher in YouTube videos of official health institutions than in independent users (p < .001). A strong correlation was observed between the modified DISCERN score and GQS (r = .879, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the YouTube videos on pediatric chemotherapy, emphasizing the need to improve the quality and reliability of online health information for this vulnerable population.

Ketogenic diet: Assessing YouTube video information using quality, reliability, and text analytics methods

OBJECTIVE

Patients and the general audience refer social media platforms, such as YouTube, to learn and apply contemporary dietary methods. It is difficult for users to analyze the correctness and quality of information available on open platforms. Using scientific evaluation, this study assessed the quality, reliability, and content of YouTube videos on ketogenic diet (KD).

METHODS

Three experienced medical practitioners reviewed and evaluated 95 videos. The quality and reliability of the videos were assessed using the quality criteria for consumer health information and the global quality scale (GQS). Topic modeling and sentiment analysis were employed to determine the dominant themes and polarity of the information.

RESULTS

Three types of publishers (doctors, educational institutions, and influencers) were identified for the study. The mean length of videos posted by doctors was high at 42.24 min. The reliability and quality scores ranging from 0 (low) to 5 (high) had an average of 3.08 ± 1.14 and 3.18 ± 1.18, respectively, for sampled videos. One-way analysis of variance reveals significant differences in DISCERN and GQS scores among doctors, educational institutions, and influencers. Topic discovery identified four themes: keto versus glucose, diabetes, KD food, and major chronic diseases. Sentiment analysis reveals positive content polarity, some content shared by doctors had a neutral sentiment.

CONCLUSION

Content creators should augment the content by citing medical information and terminology. Viewers relied more on doctors for information related to KD. The aesthetic quality is high for all types of publishers. Publishers could focus on the discovered themes to create more content. Publishers should produce high-quality videos by improving esthetics (to increase engagement), and reliable medical information (to increase impact).

Analysis of YouTube© Videos Regarding Breastfeeding During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has significantly impacted public health, it is crucial to raise awareness and access to accurate information about breastfeeding for healthy growth and development. This descriptive study aimed to evaluate the content, reliability, and quality of YouTube videos on COVID-19 and breastfeeding.

METHODS

The YouTube platform was searched for the English keywords "COVID-19" and "breastfeeding" in March 2021. A total of 325 videos were reached. Two independent researchers analyzed the content of 43 videos that met the inclusion criteria. The content quality of the videos was evaluated using the COVID-19 and Breastfeeding Score, which was prepared by researchers in line with international guidelines, the reliability of the videos was analyzed using the DISCERN, and the content quality was evaluated using the Global Quality Score (GQS).

RESULTS

The majority (72.1%) of the 43 videos included in the study were informative. In terms of the video origins, most had been uploaded in the U.S., and most had been created by news agencies or physicians. Using the DISCERN tool, 32.6% of videos scored 5 points, and 37.2% of videos scored five points using the GQS tool. Videos grouped as informative scored significantly higher than those grouped as misleading. The GQSs for the videos featuring parents were significantly lower than those for the videos featuring physicians or other healthcare professionals.

DISCUSSION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube videos served as an essential and easily accessible source of information about breastfeeding for mothers concerned about various aspects of the disease. This study showed that videos on breastfeeding and COVID-19 have high view rates but low quality and low reliability.

A content analysis of the reliability and quality of Youtube videos as a source of information on health-related post-COVID pain

Background

The use of the internet as a source of information has increased during the pandemic, and YouTube has become an increasingly important source of information on Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the long COVID picture, which occurs when symptoms related to COVID-19 last longer than 1 month, pain involving the musculoskeletal system affects the quality of life quite negatively. The aim of this study was to investigate the informational value and quality of YouTube videos related to post-COVID pain.

Methods

In this study, 180 videos were listed using the search terms "pain after COVID," "post-COVID pain," and "long COVID and pain"(15 April 2022). Videos were classified according to video parameters and content analysis. Quality, reliability and accuracy of the videos were determined with the Global Quality Score (GQS), the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria and the Modified DISCERN Questionnaire, respectively.

Results

One hundred videos that met the inclusion criteria were included in the assessment. Of these videos, 74 were found to be of low quality, 14 of moderate quality, and 12 of high quality; 21% contained insufficient data, 73% contained partially sufficient data, and 6% contained completely sufficient data. Videos uploaded by academic sources (66.7%) and physicians (12.5%) made up the majority of the high-quality group. A statistically significant correlation was found between the source of upload and number of views (p = 0.014), likes (p = 0.030), comments (p = 0.007), and video duration (p = 0.004). Video duration was found to have a poor positive correlation with GQS (r = 0.500), JAMA (r = 0.528), and modified DISCERN (r = 0.470) scores (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The findings of this study revealed that the majority of YouTube videos on post-COVID pain had low quality and partially sufficient data. High-quality videos were found to have longer durations and were uploaded by academic sources and physicians. The fact that only videos with English content at a certain time can be counted among the limitations. For patients suffering from post-COVID pain whose access to healthcare services was interrupted during the COVID pandemic, YouTube can be considered as an alternative source as well as a means of telerehabilitation. It can be argued that higher quality videos created by healthcare professionals could aid in patient education in the future.

YouTube as a source of information on COVID-19 vaccination in rheumatic diseases

As the most well-known and popular video-sharing platform around the world, YouTube is an influential tool for the dissemination of health-related information. In addition, considering the increase in obtaining information from internet-based sources in pandemic conditions, YouTube has become more important in the presentation of information related to COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate videos related to COVID-19 vaccination in rheumatic diseases (RD) on YouTube. In this descriptive study, 334 video URLs listed with six search terms were recorded (26 July 2021). Three quality groups (high, intermediate, and low) were created based on the Global Quality Scores (GQS). Video sources were identified and various video parameters were compared between the quality groups. Following the implementation of the exclusion criteria, 56 videos remained for further analysis; of which 37 (66.07%) were evaluated as high quality, 12 (21.42%) as intermediate quality, and 7 (12.51%) as low quality. No significant difference was determined between the quality groups in per day values of views, likes, dislikes, and comments. The sources of high-quality videos were pharmaceutical company (n = 1; 100%), pharmacist (n = 1; 100%), society-organization (n = 17; 85%), and academic (n = 3; 75%). Although two-thirds of the videos were high quality, it should be kept in mind that intermediate and low-quality videos are also available. Users should not assume the quality of the videos based on the number of views, likes, dislikes, and comments, but should focus more on video sources.