https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5070-2524
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ABSTRACT
Background and objective
YouTube has become a digital visual library in almost all fields of life, including medicine. Healthcare professionals and students frequently use YouTube to gain new skills and knowledge; however, the content of these videos has not been scientifically evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the descriptive adequacy and quality of YouTube videos on lumbar spine manipulation techniques (LSMTs) prepared by different healthcare professionals.
Methods
The first 50 most relevant videos retrieved on searching YouTube for the keyword ‘lumbar spinal manipulation techniques’ were included in the study. The video metrics (total duration, number of views, time since upload, number of comments, number of likes, and number of dislikes) that could be accessed from video descriptions were recorded. However the videos were scored according to manipulation definition criteria proposed by the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT manipulation description score – AAOMPT-MDS) and benchmark criteria for quality of digital content by the Journal of American Medical Association’s (JAMA). The video metrics, AAOMPT-MDS and JAMA scores of the videos prepared by medical doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists were compared.
Results
Video metrics of groups were similar. The mean AAOMPT-MDS of the videos was 2.40 ± 1.57 out of 6.00 (higher score was better), and the mean JAMA score was 2.14 ± 1.05 out of 4.00 (higher score was better). Videos created by all professional groups had statistically comparable AAOMPT-MDS and JAMA scores (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
Although YouTube videos on LSMTs offer valuable information for professionals and students, creators should follow the proposed recommendations when producing these videos to ensure quality content and systematic presentation.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Informed consent
All participants were informed about the study and Declaration of Helsinki; after that, written informed consent was signed.
Ethical approval
Publicly available YouTube videos were used in this study. No ethics review and approval are required for this type of study.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Serdar Arslan
Serdar Arlan, PT, PhD, works at Necmettin Erbakan University Nezahat Keleoğlu Health Sciences Faculty (NEUNKHSF) in Konya, Turkey. Serdar has ScD in the Doctor of Philosophy at sport medicine. He has 20 years of experience in sports physiotherapy. He teaches at NEUNKHSF in the areas of neuromusculoskeletal care and is involved in clinical research in Orthopaedics and Movement Sciences. He has focuse his research in sport injuries, manual therapy and injury prevention.
Engin Dinç
Engin Dinç, MD, works at Konya City Hospital Sports Medicine Clinic in Konya, Turkey. He has more than 10 years of experience in sports medicine. He focused his studies on the development of strategies to injury prevention. Also Engin is interested in manual therapy and continues to learn about it.
Tuğba Arslan
Tuğba Arlan, PT, PhD, works at Çankırı Karatekin University Health Sciences Faculty in Çankırı, Turkey. Tuğba has ScD in the Doctor of Philosophy at physiotherapy. She teaches in the areas of neuromusculoskeletal care and occupational therapy. She involved in clinical research in orthopaedics and older adult health.