Evaluation of the quality and content of YouTube videos as an educational resource in developing patients’ inhaler use skills

Abstract

Background YouTube has educational videos on inhalers. However, their content and quality are not adequately known. Objectives This study investigated the quality and content of educational YouTube videos on inhalers. Methods This descriptive study analyzed 178 YouTube videos on inhalers between May and July 2022. Two researchers independently evaluated the videos. The Global Quality Score (GQS), Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, and Inhaler Application Checklist (IAC) were used to assess the quality and content of the videos. Spearman’s correlation, Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, ANOVA, and Post hoc analysis Bonferroni test were used for data analysis. Results The videos had a mean GQS score of 3.70 ± 1.24, and JAMA score of 2.22 ± 0.60. A negative correlation was between the quality score of the videos and views, likes, comments, duration, and likes/views (respectively; r = −0.237 p < 0.005, r = −0.217 p < 0.003, r = −0.220 p < 0.005, r = −0.147, p < 0.005). The videos narrated by nurses and doctors had significantly higher mean JAMA and GQS scores than others (p = 0.001). The videos missed some procedural steps [gargling (29.1%), adding no more than five ml of medication and device cleaning (41.9%), and exhaling through the nose (37.5%)]. Videos uploaded by individual missed significantly more procedural steps than professional organizations (p < 0.05). Conclusions YouTube videos about inhaler techniques have a moderate level of quality. Videos uploaded by doctors and nurses as content narrators were of higher quality. The videos missed some procedural steps. Individual video uploaders had higher missed procedural steps. Counseling should be provided to patients regarding the reliability of online information.