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Qualitative evaluation of paediatric surgical otolaryngology content on YouTube

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2020

B Ward
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
R Bavier
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
C Warren
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
J Yan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
B Paskhover*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Boris Paskhover, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 140 Bergen Street, Suite 8100, Newark, NJ07103, USA E-mail: borpas@njms.rutgers.edu Fax: +1 (973) 972 8567

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the quality of YouTube content focusing on common paediatric otolaryngology procedures, as this content can influence the opinions and medical decisions of patients.

Methods

A total of 120 YouTube videos were compiled to review using the terms ‘adenoid removal’, ‘adenoidectomy’, ‘ear tubes’, ‘tympanostomy’, ‘tonsil removal’ and ‘tonsillectomy’. The Discern criteria was used to rate the quality of health information presented in each video.

Results

The mean bias Discern score was 3.18 and the mean overall Discern score was 2.39. Videos including US board certified physicians were rated significantly higher (p < 0.001) than videos without (bias Discern score = 3.00 vs 2.38; overall Discern score = 3.79 vs 1.55). The videos had been viewed a total of 176 769 549 times.

Conclusion

Unbiased, high quality videos on YouTube are lacking. As patients may rely on this information when making medical decisions, it is important that practitioners continually evaluate and improve this video content. Otolaryngologists should be prepared to discuss YouTube content with patients.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2020

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Footnotes

Dr B Paskhover takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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