Evaluation of YouTube videos as a patient information source on intravitreal injection procedures

Abstract

To evaluate the content, reception and quality of YouTube videos on intravitreal injection (IVI) procedures as an educational resource for patients. Our study was a retrospective, cross-sectional, register-based study. The terms "intravitreal injection," "intravitreal injection treatment," "eye injection," "eye injection treatment," "dexamethasone intraocular injection," "anti-VEGF injection," "Ozurdex®," "Lucentis®," and "Eylea®" were searched on YouTube. Video duration, total views, number of likes, number of dislikes, and number of comments were recorded. Quality and reliability of video content was assessed using the DISCERN questionnaire, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) score, and the Global Quality Score (GQS). The video power index (VPI) was used to determine the popularity of the videos. One hundred eleven videos were included in the study. The mean duration was 4.30minutes, and the mean number of views was 27,415.90. The mean DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores were 45.39±9.7, 1.76±0.49, and 3.60±0.84 respectively. The mean VPI was 12.16±35.56 (0-277.80). Video publishers were as follows: 31 (27.9%) private hospital YouTube channels, 17 (15.3%) ophthalmologists, 45 (40.5%) health-related YouTube channels, 18 (16.2%) "other channels." Seventy-two (64.9%) of the main narrators of the videos were ophthalmologists. The DISCERN, GQS and JAMA scores were correlated (P = 0.001). There was no correlation between the VPI scores and the DISCERN, JAMA and GQS scores (P = 0.05). This study showed that YouTube videos on IVIs contain moderately useful information for patients. YouTube videos may be helpful for patients seeking information about IVIs, but physicians must be careful to correct any misunderstandings.