Quality assessment of YouTube videos intended to inform patients about retinal detachment surgery

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness, quality and reliability of YouTube videos that address retinal detachment surgery as a source of information and education for patients. MethodsPerforming a YouTube search using the keyword ‘retinal detachment surgery for patients’, the first 100 videos in the search results were included in the study. The number of views, age, number of likes, number of dislikes, number of comments, length, upload source, country of origin, type (patient information and education, patient experience), and surgical technique described (pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy) were recorded for all videos. The quality and accuracy of the information were evaluated by two independent ophthalmologists using the DISCERN, global quality and usefulness scoring systems. ResultsOf the top 100 videos, 77 met the inclusion criteria. When the videos were evaluated according to the source, 21 (27.3%) had been uploaded by physicians, 30 (39%) by private health institutions, 10 (13%) by health channels, eight (10.4%) by patients, seven (9.1%) by academia (university hospitals), and one (1.3%) by a pharmaceutical company. The mean DISCERN score was 53.36, the mean Global Quality score was 3.49, and the mean usefulness score was 3.86. There was a significant and strong correlation between the usefulness score and the global Quality and DISCERN scores. A significant and strong correlation was also found between the global quality score and the DISCERN score. ConclusionYouTube appears to be a platform with sufficiently informative videos in the area of retinal detachment surgery for patients. Healthcare professionals and professional and academic institutions should use this platform effectively to spread high quality information to patients and their families.