Accuracy and Reliability of YouTube Videos as an Information Source for Osteoporosis
Abstract
Objectives: There is a little data available in the literature investigating videos related to osteoporosis in the internet media. The present study
investigates the characteristics and scientific accuracy of the videos related to osteoporosis, which have been uploaded and broadcast on the
YouTube website.
Materials and Methods: The key word “osteoporosis” was searched in February 2016 on the YouTube browser without any filters. The contents of
the recruited videos were assigned to three groups, including general information, preventing the disease, and treatment; while their usefulness was
classified as useful, moderately useful and not useful.
Results: Two hundred and thirty-seven (47.4%) videos formed the study group. Sixty-four point one percent of these videos contained definitive
and diagnostic information about the disease, and 87% included preventative suggestions. It was noted that 56.9% of the videos had content
related to treatment. Regardless of uploaders, the videos about osteoporosis were found to be low scores but when the videos were grouped
according to uploaders; the videos, which were uploaded by the governmental and official institutions or associations had the highest diagnostic,
preventing and treatment scores.
Conclusion: It cannot be proclaimed that the videos, which are related to osteoporosis, inform people accurately enough. It seems crucial that
videos giving information about health on such websites as YouTube, should be controlled beforehand or that more public viewing of videos
uploaded by the governmental and official institutions should be ensured. Considering the large volume of information gathering from this type of
internet source, by arranging the necessary regulations, video sharing websites may become more useful in public education
Keywords
References
- 1. Hernlund E, Svedbom A, Ivergard M, et al. Osteoporosis in the European Union: Medical management, epidemiology and economic burden: A report prepared in collaboration with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA). Arch Osteoporos. 2013;8:136.
- 2. World Health Organization. Assessment of osteoporosis at the primary health care level. Technical report of a WHO Scientific Group 2007. http:// www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/pdfs/WHO_Technical_Report.pdf (Access Date: 15.03.2016).
- 3. Cotten SR, Gupta SS. Characteristics of online and offline health information seekers and factors that discriminate between them. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59:1795-1806.
- 4. World Health Organization. WHO scientific group on the assessment of osteoporosis at primary health care level. Summary Meeting Report. https:// www.who.int/chp/topics/Osteoporosis.pdf (Access Date: 15.03.2016).
- 5. Diaz JA, Griffith RA, Ng JJ, et al. Patients’ use of the internet for medical information. J Gen Intern Med. 2002;17:180-185.
- 6. Fox S, Rainie L, Horrigan J, et al. The online health care revolution: how the web helps Americans take better care of themselves. Pew Internet & American Life Project. 2000. http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc. asp?Report=26. (Access Date: 15.03.2016).
- 7. Silberg, WM, Lundberg GD, Musacchio RA. Assessing, controlling, and assuring the quality of medical information on the internet: caveant lector et viewor-let the reader and viewer beware. JAMA. 1997;277:1244-1245.
- 8. Cosman F, De Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al. Clinician’s guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2014;25:2359-2381.
- 9. MacLeod MG, Hoppe DJ, Simunovic N, et al. YouTube as an information source for femoroacetabular impingement: A systematic review of video content. Arthroscopy. 2015;31:136-142.
- 10. Brooks FM, Lawrence H, Jones A, et al. YouTubeTM as a source of patient information for lumbar discectomy. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2014;96:144-146.