An Assessment of Educational Content and an Audience Engagement Analysis of Dry Eye Disease Videos on YouTube

Abstract

This study addresses the growing interest in Dry Eye Disease (DED) by evaluating the quality of DED videos on YouTube, gauging audience engagement, and identifying factors influencing viewership. In this cross-sectional study, we collected videos, during July to September 2023, using the keyword ‘dry eye’. A data collection form, including general characteristics and audience engagement metrics, was employed. Two medical experts rated the videos using Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool-Audio Visual (PEMAT-A/V) and custom clinical scoring tool. Among the total 52 videos assessed, 80.8% of speakers were Medical Doctors. Regarding symptoms, only 21.2% of videos mentioned excessive tearing and 34.6% stated blurry vision. The majority (69.2%) mentioned eye drops as a treatment. Lifestyle modification and limiting screen use were addressed by only 34.6% of videos. Out of the total 20, mean clinical index score was 7.5 (±5.4). The mean understandability (total = 11) and actionability (total = 3) scores were 8.1 (±2.0) and 1.7 (±0.98), respectively. Among PEMAT-A/V individual items, only 13.5% offered content summaries, and 23.5% explained actions explicitly. The number of likes, comments and views were significantly higher for the videos with higher understandability and actionability scores. The videos performed well on understandability items; however, explicit actionable items need to be included in videos. Moreover, the public views more and likes understandable and actionable videos. To maximize benefit to the audience, we recommend healthcare professionals use the PEMAT-A/V guidelines for health education content.

Keywords:

• Cross-sectional study
• dry eye disease
• engagement metrics
• PEMAT-A/V
• YouTube

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be available upon request via e-mailing the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Aliba Omar Syed

Aliba Omar Syed, MPH-Epidemiology emphasis, CPH (USA) ([email protected]) is an MPH graduate from UC Irvine and has worked in the Department of Health, Society & Behavior at UC Irvine.

Saulat Jahan

Saulat Jahan, MBBS, MPH, FCPS, PhD, CPH (USA) ([email protected]) is a head of Research at Innovation unit at the Family Medicine Academy, Qassim Health Cluster in Saudi Arabia.

Amjad Ali Omar Syed

Amjad Ali Omar Syed, MBBS, FCPS (Ophthalmology) ([email protected]) works as a consultant in the ophthalmology department in King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.