An Assessment of the Quality of YouTube Videos as a Resource for Adolescents Experiencing Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Abstract

Study ObjectiveYouTube, the largest accessible media-sharing platform, has become an important tool for pursuing health-related information. Adolescents may find it challenging to seek counseling or access adolescent-friendly services for menstruation-related problems, so YouTube may be a useful resource. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability, quality, and accuracy of YouTube videos concerning abnormal uterine bleeding in adolescents. MethodsA YouTube search using the key words “adolescent, teens, heavy period, abnormal uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding” yielded 109 videos. Video features (duration, time since upload, likes, views, comments), sources of upload, and content were recorded. All the videos were reviewed by 2 adolescent medicine specialists and scored using the Journal of the American Medical Association, the 5-point modified DISCERN tool, and the Global Quality Scale. ResultsFifty-eight videos met the inclusion criteria. Most (62.1%) were created by non-professionals, and a significant portion (81%) contained general descriptions. On the basis of the DISCERN classification, 50% exhibited poor quality. Similarly, the Journal of the American Medical Association assessment indicated that only 36.2% satisfied the requirements for good quality. The videos uploaded by professionals exhibited notably superior quality in comparison with those uploaded by non-professionals. Additionally, higher-quality videos were longer (P = .040) and more recent (P = .011). ConclusionMot YouTube videos about adolescent abnormal uterine bleeding provide low-quality information. We believe that increasing the number of videos tailored by health care providers specializing in adolescent gynecology to address the specific physical and psychosocial needs of adolescents with menstrual problems would be beneficial.