Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pudendal neuralgia (PN) is a disabling condition characterized by chronic pain in the distribution area of the pudendal nerve (perineum, anus, and genital region) which is originated from the sacral plexus and contains sensory fibers located in the dorsal root ganglia of the sacrum S2-S4. Patients suffering from pudendal neuralgia use the internet to learn more about their medical condition.YouTube has become a popular source of information, but little is known about the quality of material offered to patients. METHODS: A search was conducted (April 2023) on YouTube using the words “pudendal neuralgia physical therapy," "medications for pudendal neuralgia," "pudendal nerve block," "pudendal neuralgia surgery," and "alternative treatments for pudendal neuralgia." The results were analyzed based on the source, general descriptive statistics, the intended audience, and five content areas.The DISCERN scoring system was used to evaluate the quality of videos. RESULTS: After the search, 73 videos met the inclusion criteria for further analysis.The majority of these videos (61.64%) were intended to target the general population, whereas a smaller percentage were identified as professional (41.10%) or targeted for physicians (35.62%). From the videos included, 10 (13.70%) described treatment options in a balanced and evidence-based manner. The higher DISCERN score positively correlated with the presence of this last content criterion. With a total DISCERN mean score of 35.42, a significant proportion of the videos (41.10%) were rated very poor. The remaining videos were classified as poor (23.29%), fair (19.18%), good (8.22%), and excellent (8.22%). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the information included in YouTube videos regarding pudendal neuralgia treatment was considered generally poor. Healthcare providers must recognize the potential influence of this platform on patients’ understanding of pudendal neuralgia treatment.
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