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Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify and assess the characteristics and content quality of the YouTube videos suggesting alternatives for either treating or preventing COVID-19 and their perception among the viewers. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted on YouTube, resulting in a total of 120 videos being selected for the study based on view count and relevance. The videos were evaluated for their content quality using the JAMA and DISCERN scoring system by two reviewers. Their mean DISCERN scores indicate the 20.8% of the videos were of very poor quality, 34.2% poor, 30.0% average, 11.7%, good and 3.3% excellent. In addition, 40.8% of the videos were classified as misleading, 37.5% as useful and 21.7% as neither/nor. Blogs/short films were the most predominantly used media type for spreading misleading information in the videos, while government agencies and health information channels shared useful videos with evidence-based information. There was a poor correlation between the viewer’s ratings and the quality assessment findings. Interventions by government agencies and professional medical organizations are necessary to improve the quality standard of the health care information disseminated through YouTube.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Sarvesh Sawant
Sarvesh Sawant is a doctoral student in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. His research interests are in applying the concepts of human factors engineering to improve healthcare systems.
Aswathi Nair
Aswathi Nair is a graduate student in the School of Public Health at The University of Texas Health Science Center. Her research interests addresses topics in telemedicine and health informatics.
Shaik Aisha Sultana
Shaik Aisha Sultana is an anesthesiologist at the Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences with research interests in public health.
Arjun Rajendran
Arjun Rajendran is a senior resident in the Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes at Amrita Hospitals. His research interests are in public health, telemedicine, and health informatics.
Kapil Chalil Madathil
Kapil Chalil Madathil is the Wilfred P. Tiencken endowed Assistant Professor of Civil and Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. His area of expertise is in applying the knowledge base of human factors engineering to the design and operation of human-computer systems.