Evaluation of YouTube as patient education tool in physical therapy: a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube as a source of physical therapy patient education. Methods: The study was conducted using a scoping review design that considers the various studies that have been undertaken about YouTube video's quality and reliability in the field of physical therapy. The PRISMA Reporting protocol was used to screen out articles from databases (Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, PEDro, EBSCOhost). The Pedro scale was used to check the quality of the study while Cochrane Bias Tool was used to screen for risks of bias. Results: A total of 29 articles were included. The publications were then classified into 21 musculoskeletal articles, 4 neurological articles, 1 cardiovascular, 1 urology article, and 2 on water treatment and frailty syndrome. Overall, 18 (62.07%) of the articles were rated as poor, 7 (24.14%) as fair, and 4 (13.79%) as excellent quality. In terms of reliability, 19 articles (65.52%) were scored as poor, 3 (10.34%) as fair, and 7 (24.14%) as highly reliable. This scoping review found that YouTube can be a beneficial tool as a primary resource for patient education; however, it lacks the accuracy of material needed to answer patient/client inquiries. The articles chosen were found to have low reliability and poor quality. Discussion: Healthcare professionals, physical therapists, and educators can use additional peer-reviewed resources to doublecheck the integrity of the material provided and ensure that the YouTube channel's source is legitimate and trustworthy.